An explosion occurred at Qatar’s main natural gas export terminal on Sunday night as workers attempted to restart operations following a period of shutdown due to Iranian military actions. This incident resulted in a fire that injured at least 54 people, with 18 still unaccounted for several hours afterward.
The blast took place in the Ras Laffan industrial area. This development could further impact global energy markets given Qatar’s position as a leading natural gas producer. Qatar had previously ceased production after Iranian forces obstructed the Strait of Hormuz, preventing shipments from reaching clients.
With Iran easing its control over the strait amid ongoing negotiations to end the conflict, Qatar proceeded to resume activities at its export terminal. On Sunday night, an attempt to restart operations at the Barzan gas supply facility led to the explosion and subsequent fire, as reported by QatarEnergy, the state-owned company.
The full extent of the damage from the blast is still undetermined. Initially, officials reported only a few injuries; however, Qatar’s Interior Ministry later revealed a significant increase in casualty figures. The Barzan plant could produce nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas daily, which Qatar primarily used for domestic electricity and crucial water desalination, vital for the desert environment of the Arabian Peninsula.
QatarEnergy owns almost the entire facility, with a small stake held by ExxonMobil. The oil company has yet to release a comment regarding the incident.
Back in March, Ras Laffan suffered another attack when an Iranian missile caused substantial damage after igniting a fire. This followed Qatar’s halting of production amid repeated Iranian hostilities. Qatar’s shared offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf has been central to its prosperity, funding international recognition projects like hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, establishing the Al Jazeera network, and facilitating international mediation efforts, such as the Iran-U.S. talks in Switzerland.