Middle East crisis: QatarEnergy halts LNG production
QatarLNG has officially announced the shutdown of its LNG production export facility after it was targeted in an Iranian drone attack.
In a statement made known to The Energy Republic, the company said, “Due to military attacks on QatarEnergy’s operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in the State of Qatar, QatarEnergy has ceased production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products.
“QatarEnergy values its relationships with all of its stakeholders and will continue to communicate the latest available information.”
Qatar’s LNG production facilities, liquefaction plants and export infrastructure are concentrated almost entirely in Ras Laffan, about 80 kilometres northeast of Doha. The company produces gas from the fields that it shares with Iran.
Qatar’s key role in global LNG market
Qatar is the world’s second-largest exporter of LNG, behind only the United States. It shipped 82.4 million metric tons of LNG in 2025, representing 20% of global exports, according to data from S&P Global Energy CERA.
Qatar is set to drive at least 40% of global LNG supply growth by 2029, expanding output from 77 mtpa to 142 million tons per annum (mtpa), as it plans to expand output capacity to 142 mtpa in the coming years.
According to Reuters report, QatarEnergy currently supplies LNG to Europe and Asian markets, with over 80% of customers in China, Japan, India, South Korea, Pakistan and other countries in the region. It also estimate the company supplies 90%-95% of its gas under long-term contracts and 5%-10% under spot contracts.
