North American LNG Exports Offset War-Time Losses in Middle East

A recent report from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies found that new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in North America are helping to offset losses caused by the war in the Middle East. The study noted a sharp decline in LNG exports from Qatar and the UAE due to damage incurred during the conflict, with QatarEnergy declaring force majeure on some exports.

The Ras Laffan North and Ras Laffan South facilities in Qatar may take up to five years to fully recover from the damage, with an estimated reconstruction price tag of around $26 billion. However, two new LNG projects in the UAE, controlled by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), are expected to contribute to global supplies.

North American LNG exports, led by facilities such as Plaquemines in Louisiana and LNG Canada on the Pacific Coast, are also helping to offset some of the losses. According to OIES estimates, combined deliveries from Qatar and the UAE averaged 63 billion cubic feet per month over the three months ending in July, representing a loss of 250 billion cubic feet per month compared to the same period last year.