Qatar Turns to US Gas Amid Iran War Disruptions
Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry has been severely impacted by the ongoing Iran-US war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic trade route. The country was previously one of the world's biggest LNG exporters before the conflict began in February 2026.
The Ras Laffan complex, QatarEnergy's largest liquefaction facility, has been offline since an attack on March 2, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Two of its 14 LNG trains and a gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility were damaged by Iranian strikes in March.
The damage resulted in an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue for QatarEnergy, with approximately 17% of the country's liquefaction capacity knocked out. The repairs are expected to take three to five years, sidelining 12.8 million tons per year of LNG.
In response to these disruptions, QatarEnergy is now negotiating with US producers to secure multi-year contracts for LNG supplies. The company is seeking 2-3 million metric tons per annum through 2031 and has reportedly approached Venture Global, Cheniere, Woodside, and other US producers.