Ras Laffan LNG is currently damaged (since March 19, 2026): Two of 14 LNG trains and a GTL plant were destroyed on 19 Mar (12.8 mtpa, ~17% of capacity, 3-5 years to repair); the remaining trains provide about 83% of operational capacity, with 3-4 kept running at low rates for a faster restart. Exports depend on Hormuz: QatarEnergy restarted shipments in September using older 'mother' tankers that sail loaded, often dark, and transfer cargo to 'daughter' vessels waiting in the Gulf of Oman, with Qatar recalling leased-out ships, chartering outside tonnage at roughly 10x normal freight and recruiting Indonesian crews at double-to-triple pay. Deliveries reached about a third of prewar levels by late September — April-September exports were down almost 90% year on year — at an estimated cost to Qatar of roughly $1bn a week (Bloomberg); the IMF estimates Qatar's economy could contract 15.6% this year. On 19 October a Qatari LNG cargo loaded in August sailed through the Red Sea, with ship-tracking data suggesting it was headed to Poland (Bloomberg) — a route most vessels have avoided since 2023 — while UKMTO reported a skiff fired on an LNG tanker in the Gulf of Aden near Al Mukalla the same day; the vessel's security team returned fire and it continued its voyage.
Updated October 22, 2026 · View on the live map →
Geopolitical context
Qatar's entire LNG export capacity sits behind Hormuz, with no pipeline bypass — unlike Saudi or Emirati crude. That makes Ras Laffan the single largest point of LNG exposure in the world: roughly a fifth of global LNG supply. Long-term contracts with China, India, Japan, Korea, and (since 2022) Germany and other European buyers mean a Hormuz disruption hits Asian and European gas markets at the same time.
Recent developments
October 22, 2026 · market confirmed
QatarEnergy signs long-term deal for up to 4 mtpa of US LNG from Cheniere
QatarEnergy signed two long-term sale-and-purchase agreements with US developer Cheniere Energy for up to 4 million tonnes a year of LNG — 2 mtpa each from Cheniere's Sabine Pass (Louisiana) and Corpus Christi (Texas) terminals — with deliveries running from 2031 through 2054, priced off the Henry Hub benchmark plus a fixed fee. The deal gives QatarEnergy a supply source outside the Gulf after Iranian missile strikes destroyed two LNG trains (12.8 mtpa, about 17% of capacity) at its Ras Laffan complex in March; the company has said repairs could take three to five years and cost roughly $20bn a year in lost revenue. One mtpa of the Sabine Pass volume depends on a final investment decision for an expansion phase there (confirmed).
October 19, 2026 · shipping reported
Qatari LNG cargo takes rare Red Sea route as a tanker is fired on nearby
A Qatari LNG carrier loaded in August sailed north through the Red Sea, with ship-tracking data suggesting it was headed to Poland, Bloomberg reported — a route most LNG and container ships have avoided since 2023 in favor of the longer Cape of Good Hope detour. Separately, UKMTO reported a skiff fired on an LNG tanker southeast of Al Mukalla in the Gulf of Aden; the tanker's security team returned fire and the vessel continued its voyage. The cargo moved as European gas prices sit near a four-year high and EU storage is at its lowest for the season in over a decade.
October 7, 2026 · shipping reported
Qatar positions a dozen empty LNG carriers in the Gulf for a potential export boost
Bloomberg ship-tracking and satellite imagery found Qatar had assembled at least 12 empty LNG carriers, about 1.1 million tonnes of capacity and roughly 2% of the global LNG fleet, in the Gulf, signalling it may be preparing to raise exports. It remained unclear whether the ships would transit the Strait of Hormuz once loaded, given intensified Iranian attacks on vessels there.
September 21, 2026 · shipping reported
Qatar steps up LNG tanker movements through Hormuz
Bloomberg ship-tracking showed at least four Qatari LNG carriers moving through Hormuz in a week (two laden outbound), the most sustained activity since Qatar largely halted exports via the strait in early July after one of its tankers was attacked. Energy Minister al-Kaabi said on 21 September undamaged parts of Ras Laffan could restart within a couple of weeks of the strait reopening; about 17% of capacity (two trains) remains destroyed.
September 15, 2026 · market reported
TTF hits 2026 high near €84/MWh as EU storage lags at ~68%
Dutch TTF front-month reached €83.97/MWh on 15 September, the highest since late 2022, with EU storage at 68.5% versus 80.8% a year earlier (Germany 55.9%). Asian JKM reached its highest in about 2.5 years on 10 September. Prices eased later in the month on US-Iran talk reports.
July 7, 2026 · shipping confirmed
Qatari LNG carrier Al Rekayyat and Saudi VLCC Wedyan hit near Hormuz
The Qatari LNG tanker Al Rekayyat caught fire after being hit off Limah, Oman, the first Qatari LNG ship struck in the war, and the Saudi supertanker Wedyan was damaged. Qatar and Saudi Arabia held Iran responsible. Qatar then largely halted LNG exports through the strait.
June 22, 2026 · infrastructure confirmed
Explosion at Barzan gas facility in Ras Laffan kills at least 13
An explosion at the Barzan gas facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City killed at least 13 workers two days after restart operations began. Qatar's energy minister blamed a technical malfunction, ruled out sabotage and said exports would not be affected.
March 24, 2026 · infrastructure confirmed
QatarEnergy declares long-term force majeure; 17% of capacity out for 3-5 years
QatarEnergy declared force majeure on long-term LNG contracts with buyers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China. The 19 March strikes damaged two of 14 LNG trains and a GTL plant, removing 12.8 mtpa (~17% of export capacity); repairs are estimated at 3-5 years and lost revenue at ~$20bn a year.
March 19, 2026 · military confirmed
Iran strikes Ras Laffan, SAMREF, Habshan and Kuwaiti refineries
In retaliation for the South Pars strike, Iran hit Qatar's Ras Laffan complex (extensive damage), UAE's Habshan gas facility and Bab field, Saudi Arabia's SAMREF refinery at Yanbu, and Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries (Mina al-Ahmadi was hit again on 20 March). Brent rose above $110.
March 2, 2026 · infrastructure confirmed
QatarEnergy halts LNG production after attacks; TTF jumps 46%
QatarEnergy halted production after military attacks on Ras Laffan and Mesaieed industrial cities. Qatar supplies about 20% of world LNG. Dutch TTF front-month rose €14.52 to €46.52/MWh on 2 March from about €32 the previous Friday.