Qatar will resume normal production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) within a “few weeks,” its prime minister told the Financial Times.
State-owned QatarEnergy declared force majeure as it could not fulfill contracts after several Iranian strikes damaged its Ras Laffan facility early in the war.
Qatar is one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, accounting for roughly 20% of global exports, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
“Within a few weeks, production will come back to normal, except the damaged facility,” Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the FT.
Qatar – which alongside Pakistan mediated talks between the US and Iran – anticipates shipping in the strait to return to normal levels in the weeks following their memorandum of understanding.
He said QatarEnergy would lift force majeure only “once the company sees they have addressed all the issues, and it’s safe to operate”.
On Sunday, at least 13 people, including a dozen Indian nationals, were killed in an explosion at Ras Laffan, authorities said, adding it was the result of an industrial accident and not conflict-related. Sixty-six people were injured in the incident.
Source: CNN
– Agencies
