Caption:An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fires rockets while flying at a position along the border between northern Israel and southern Lebanon on March 4, 2026. AFP/Jalaa Marey
Summary
- QatarEnergy declared force majeure to affected buyers after attacks on key facilities led it to stop LNG production earlier this week.
- Qatari officials said Iranian drones struck major hubs in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed, amid wider missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.
- Qatar, a leading global LNG supplier, also began halting some downstream output (including urea, polymers and methanol) as disruptions hit its energy operations.
DOHA – Qatar’s state-run energy firm on Wednesday declared force majeure following attacks on two of its main facilities that halted liquefied natural gas production and as Iran pressed missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.
“Further to the announcement by QatarEnergy to stop production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products, QatarEnergy has declared Force Majeure to its affected buyers,” the company said in a statement.
QatarEnergy invoked the clause, which shields it from penalties and potential breach of contract claims from clients, after stopping LNG production on Monday.
Iranian drones attacked two of the company’s main production hubs in Ras Laffan Industrial City, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Doha and in Mesaieed 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the Qatari capital, Doha’s ministry of defence said at the time.
The Gulf state is one of the world’s top liquefied natural gas producers, alongside the United States, Australia and Russia.
On Tuesday, QatarEnergy said it would halt some downstream production of some products including urea, polymers, methanol, aluminium and others.
Qatar shares the world’s largest natural gas reservoir with Iran.
QatarEnergy estimates the Gulf state’s portion of the reservoir, the North Field, holds about 10 percent of the world’s known natural gas reserves.
In recent years, Qatar has inked a series of long-term LNG deals with France’s Total, Britain’s Shell, India’s Petronet, China’s Sinopec and Italy’s Eni, among others. (AFP)
