Qatar says it will take upto 5 years to repair LNG plants

Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry has suffered a huge blow after Iran’s recent attacks damaged critical facilities. According to QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi, nearly 17% of the country’s LNG export capacity has been hit. The damage is so severe that repairs may take three to five years, cutting production by 12.8 million tonnes annually.

Al-Kaabi described the incident as unprecedented, saying he never imagined such aggression from a “brotherly Muslim country.” He warned that if tensions escalate further, the global economy could face serious risks. The affected infrastructure, worth $26 billion, includes two LNG trains and one gas-to-liquids plant. This disruption could lead to annual revenue losses of around $20 billion.

The impact is not limited to LNG. Exports of condensate, LPG, naphtha, sulphur, and helium are also expected to drop significantly. QatarEnergy may even declare force majeure on long-term supply contracts, affecting countries like Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China.

For India, the situation is particularly worrying. The country imports 47% of its LNG from Qatar, making it highly vulnerable. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India must diversify its energy sources to reduce dependence on one supplier. The crisis highlights how regional conflicts can quickly disrupt global energy markets and directly impact everyday lives in India.