Qatar Turns to US LNG Amid Iran War Disruptions

QatarEnergy is seeking alternative sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid disruptions in supply due to the ongoing war between the US and Iran. According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, the state-owned company is in discussions with US suppliers under long-term agreements.

The talks mark the first indication since the start of the war that Qatar is looking outside of the Middle East to expand its portfolio. The potential deals show how the conflict is pushing Qatar to seek alternative sources of gas to satisfy its customers.

Qatar used to supply around a fifth of the world's LNG, but shipments have largely stopped due to the risks of moving gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war erupted in late February, Qatar was advancing a plan to nearly double production from the Ras Laffan LNG export plant by 2030.

The facility, the world's largest, was damaged by an Iranian strike in the early weeks of the conflict. This shift to US suppliers represents a significant change for the major LNG exporter as the war continues to disrupt Middle Eastern energy flows.