Qatar has confirmed a significant disruption to its energy sector following Iranian missile strikes on the strategic Ras Laffan Industrial City, with officials warning that the attacks have reduced the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity by approximately 17 percent. Authorities say the damage could cost the country an estimated $20 billion annually in lost revenue and may take up to five years to fully repair.
State-owned QatarEnergy disclosed that the missile strikes occurred on Wednesday and continued into the early hours of Thursday, directly impacting key LNG production infrastructure. The facility affected, Ras Laffan Industrial City, is one of the world’s most important energy hubs, supplying gas to major markets across Europe and Asia.
In a statement shared via the social media platform X, QatarEnergy said the attacks specifically damaged LNG Trains 4 and 6, which together have a production capacity of 12.8 million metric tons per annum. This represents roughly 17 percent of Qatar’s total LNG export output, a significant portion of global supply.
Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, confirmed that despite the scale of the attack, no casualties were recorded. He described the strikes as “unjustified and senseless,” emphasizing that they pose a broader threat beyond Qatar’s borders.
“I am relieved to confirm that no one was injured by these unjustified and senseless attacks, which weren’t just an attack on the State of Qatar but attacks on global energy security and stability,” Al-Kaabi stated.
The damaged LNG facilities involve international partnerships, highlighting the global implications of the incident. Train 4 operates as a joint venture between QatarEnergy, which holds a 66 percent stake, and ExxonMobil, which owns 34 percent. Meanwhile, Train 6 is jointly owned with a 70 percent stake held by QatarEnergy and 30 percent by ExxonMobil.
According to Al-Kaabi, the extent of the damage means repairs could take between three and five years, forcing the company to declare long-term force majeure on several LNG contracts. This move is expected to have ripple effects across key global markets, particularly in countries heavily reliant on Qatari gas supplies.
“The impact is on China, South Korea, Italy and Belgium. This means that we will be compelled to declare force majeure for up to five years on some long-term LNG contracts,” he said.
In addition to LNG disruptions, the attacks also struck the Pearl GTL facility, a major gas-to-liquids project operated by Shell. The facility converts natural gas into cleaner-burning fuels and other products such as base oils, paraffins, and waxes. Officials indicated that one of Pearl GTL’s two production trains is expected to remain offline for at least one year while further assessments are carried out.
The broader impact on Qatar’s energy output is substantial. QatarEnergy warned of additional production losses, including approximately 18.6 million barrels of condensates—around 24 percent of exports—alongside 1.281 million tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), representing about 13 percent. The country also expects to lose roughly 0.594 million tons of naphtha, equivalent to 6 percent of exports.
Further losses are projected in sulfur and helium production, with estimated reductions of 0.18 million tons of sulfur and 309.54 MCFA of helium, accounting for approximately 6 percent and 14 percent of exports respectively. These disruptions highlight the interconnected nature of Qatar’s energy infrastructure and its importance to global supply chains.
The latest developments come amid an escalating regional conflict that began on February 28, when joint military operations by the United States and Israel targeted Iranian positions. The offensive has reportedly resulted in around 1,300 deaths so far, intensifying geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.
Iran has since retaliated with a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as countries including Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf states that host U.S. military assets. Qatar had earlier declared force majeure on certain deliveries after initial drone strikes forced a temporary halt in LNG production.
With repairs expected to take years and key export volumes significantly reduced, the attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City underscores growing concerns over the vulnerability of global energy infrastructure and the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing conflict.
