QatarEnergy has suspended production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related products after drone strikes targeted key operational facilities in Qatar’s major industrial hubs.
The company said that, “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 and associated products.”
Qatar’s Defense Ministry stated that two drones launched from Iran struck strategic infrastructure sites. One drone targeted a water tank at a power plant in Mesaieed, while the other struck an energy facility in Ras Laffan linked to QatarEnergy. Authorities reported no human casualties but said a full damage assessment is underway.
Ras Laffan is the backbone of Qatar’s LNG industry and serves as the primary export terminal for the country’s gas shipments.
Qatar is the world’s largest LNG exporter, and any prolonged disruption could have significant implications for global energy security, particularly in Europe and Asia, which rely heavily on Qatari supplies.
Global Gas prices soar
Markets reacted immediately to the announcement. Benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices surged nearly 50 percent within hours, while Asian LNG benchmarks jumped approximately 39 percent, reflecting concerns over supply tightness and shipping disruptions.
The escalation comes at a time when oil tankers have already been queuing near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and a substantial portion of Qatari LNG exports transit. Any sustained instability in the waterway risks compounding volatility across global energy markets.
Image via QNA | Cropped by GBN
Saudi Arabia shuts units at Ras Tanura
The Saudi authorities reported attempted drone attacks on the Ras Tanura oil refinery, located near Dammam in the kingdom’s Eastern Province.
The refinery, with a processing capacity of 550,000 barrels per day, is one of the largest in the Middle East and a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, two drones were intercepted, though a small fire broke out at the facility. Certain refinery units were temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy said it does not anticipate disruptions to domestic petroleum supply but emphasized that operations were partially halted to ensure safety.
Energy infrastructure has increasingly become a focal point in the confrontation, raising concerns over sustained supply disruptions.
