1 hr ago
Qatar Shifts Toward US LNG After Hormuz Disruption
Qatar is one of the world’s biggest sellers of liquefied natural gas.
Much of its gas travels through the Strait of Hormuz to customers in Asia.
During the Iran-US war, attacks damaged part of Qatar’s main LNG facility at Ras Laffan.
The waterway has also been difficult to use, making it harder for ships to carry Qatari gas.
Qatar says the damage removed about 17% of its LNG export capacity.
Repairs could keep 12.8 million tonnes of yearly LNG capacity offline for three to five years.
To keep supplying customers, QatarEnergy has been buying some cargoes and is now seeking longer-term gas deals from United States producers.
The International Energy Agency expects the disruption to affect global LNG supplies in 2026 and 2027.
QatarEnergy has not publicly commented on the reported negotiations.
QatarEnergy is negotiating multi-year LNG deals with United States producers to replace exports lost after damage at Ras Laffan.
Iranian strikes damaged two of Ras Laffan’s 14 LNG trains and one gas-to-liquids facility, removing about 17% of Qatar’s liquefaction capacity.
The Strait of Hormuz disruption has sharply reduced LNG shipments from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, affecting Asian customers in particular.
QatarEnergy Trading is seeking 2–3 million metric tons per year through 2031 from producers including Venture Global, Cheniere and Woodside Energy.
The International Energy Agency warned that the damage could reduce global LNG supply by about 140 billion cubic metres cumulatively between 2026 and 2030.
- Who
- QatarEnergy, its trading arm QatarEnergy Trading, United States LNG producers, and customers in Asia and Europe are involved.
- What
- QatarEnergy is seeking multi-year United States LNG contracts after damage and transit disruptions reduced Qatar’s export capacity.
- Where
- The disruption centers on Qatar’s Ras Laffan complex and the Strait of Hormuz, with potential replacement supplies from the United States.
- When
- The reported negotiations cover supplies through 2031; the Ras Laffan damage occurred in March during the conflict that began in February 2026.
- Why
- QatarEnergy needs to replace lost export volumes and meet commitments to customers after Iranian strikes and the interruption of Hormuz shipping.
Key facts
- Damaged facility
- Ras Laffan, described as the world’s largest liquefaction facility
- Capacity affected
- About 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity
- Repair impact
- 12.8 million tonnes per year of LNG capacity could be offline for three to five years
- Reported US sourcing target
- QatarEnergy Trading is seeking 2–3 million metric tons per year through 2031
- Hormuz LNG flows
- More than 110 billion cubic metres of LNG passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025
- Global supply risk
- The International Energy Agency estimates a cumulative loss of around 140 billion cubic metres of LNG supply between 2026 and 2030
- Potential lost revenue
- QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi estimated annual losses of about $20 billion
Quotes
Saad al-Kaabi
QatarEnergy CEO and Qatar’s state minister for energy affairs
“Qatar's current pursuit of long-term LNG volumes from other producers to help Qatar deliver into their customer contracts indicates that Qatar now sees risk to their ability to export LNG for several years”
livemint.com
“I mean, these are long-term contracts that we have to declare force majeure. We already declared, but that was a shorter term. Now it's whatever the period is”
livemint.com
A fourth trading and industry source
Unnamed source cited by Reuters regarding QatarEnergy’s US LNG procurement
“They will have to buy whatever they can get their hands on”
livemint.com
Sources
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