Qatar has temporarily suspended the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will not be able to return to its usual supply levels for at least a month. According to sources familiar with the situation, it will take no less than two weeks to restore operations at the main Ras Laffan plant, which halted on Wednesday, and an additional two weeks will be needed to reach full capacity after restarting.
This is reported by Finway
“Qatar has completely halted LNG production and will not be able to resume normal production and export levels for at least a month.”
The national oil and gas company QatarEnergy has not yet provided official comments regarding the situation.
Impact of Tensions in the Middle East
LNG production in Qatar was halted on March 2 following an attack by two Iranian drones on QatarEnergy facilities. Experts emphasize that Qatar supplies approximately 20% of the world’s demand for liquefied natural gas and is a strategic supplier for Asian and European markets. In terms of LNG export volumes, the country ranks second only to the United States.
Risks to the Energy Market
The recent wave of attacks in the Middle East has impacted not only Qatar. As a result, major oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan has been suspended, and several large Israeli gas fields have been temporarily closed, leading to restrictions on gas exports to Egypt. The current situation in the energy market further exacerbates energy security issues and affects supply balancing in the region.