Qatar's LNG Expansion on Track for 2027 Startup Despite Shipping Disruptions

Qatar's massive liquefied natural gas expansion is on track to start producing its first output in the first half of 2027, according to Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.

The expansion, which includes the North Field East phase, has been impacted by shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. However, Al-Kaabi remains optimistic about the project's progress and timeline.

At the Qatar Economic Forum in New York on September 20, 2026, Al-Kaabi announced that the first production train at North Field East is expected to come online in 2027.