June 24, 2026, 12:19 p.mJune 24, 2026, 12:19 p.m
Qatar wants to return to normal production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) within a few weeks. “Within a few weeks, production will rise back to normal levels,” Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Financial Times in an interview published on Wednesday.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.Image: keystone
An exception is the Ras Laffan gas plant, which was damaged by Iranian attacks during the war and most recently by an explosion. “Our teams have been mobilized for a few weeks,” said Sheikh Mohammed. The state energy company Qatar Energy is preparing for normal operations as soon as the situation in the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal.
The state of “force majeure” for the suspended LNG deliveries should only be lifted when “all questions have been clarified and operations are safe,” it said.
“Force Majeure” means an external, unforeseeable event that is beyond the control of the contracting parties. This can include war, natural disasters or pandemics, which mean that a service can only be fulfilled inadequately or not at all. The declaration legally releases a contractual partner from his delivery obligations.
Qatar typically supplies a fifth of global LNG needs
Qatar is one of the largest producers of liquefied natural gas, typically supplying about a fifth of global demand. As a result of the Iran war, the production and export of LNG from the Arab country via the Strait of Hormuz was stopped.
According to an agreement from 2022, Qatar also wants to deliver LNG to Germany from 2026 onwards. The planned quantity could cover around three percent of Germany’s annual requirements. The US company Conoco Phillips is to deliver to a liquid gas terminal in Brunsbüttel as part of the agreement.
The war began around four months ago with attacks by the USA and Israel in Iran. After a framework agreement, negotiations are now underway to reach a final agreement to end the war. Shipping traffic across the Strait of Hormuz should also return to normal. (hkl/sda/awp/dpa)