QatarEnergy plans rapid LNG restart after Strait of Hormuz reopening

QatarEnergy Plans Rapid LNG Production Restart As Hormuz Reopens

QatarEnergy Plans Rapid LNG Production Restart As Hormuz Reopens Qatar shut the world's largest LNG facility early in the U.S.-Iran war after Iranian Shahed one-way attack drones struck critical energy infrastructure, triggering chaos across global gas markets, just as the Hormuz maritime chokepoint was shuttered. Now, with a U.S.-Iran peace deal set to formally reopen the waterway by Friday, there is encouraging news on the supply side: According to Bloomberg News, Qatar is preparing to rapidly restart LNG production, a move that could help ease the global supply crunch and accelerate the normalization of energy flows. Sources tell the outlet that QatarEnergy has been preparing for a fast restart since April by testing equipment, performing maintenance and keeping some production trains running at reduced levels. The restart timeline now stands at 50% capacity within one month and about 80% within two months - well ahead of earlier timelines. A full recovery of QatarEnergy's Ras Laffan complex, which exported almost 20% of global supply last year, could take years after parts of the facility were damaged by Iranian drones and missiles in the first few weeks of the conflict in March.  The return of Qatari LNG would help ease a global supply crunch; however, commodity analyst Jack Prandelli pointed out on X: Here's what those headlines will miss: 80% is not 100%. And it never will be ...not for years. Iranian attacks on Ras Laffan damaged 2 full liquefaction trains. 17% of Qatar's total LNG capacity. That's 12.8 million tonnes per year gone for 3 to 5 years minimum. Before the war, Qatar supplied roughly one fifth of all global LNG trade. Europe and Asia were heavily dependent on those cargoes. When Ras Laffan went dark, European gas prices jumped 40-50% in weeks. Asian buyers scrambled. Now Qatar comes back but permanently smaller. 🚨Qatar just told its LNG buyers what the restart looks like. 50% capacity within 1 month of Hormuz reopening. 80% within 2 months. That's the good news. Markets will rally on this. Headlines will say "LNG crisis ending." Here's what those headlines will miss: 80% is not… pic.twitter.com/mseV2fjYz3 — Jack Prandelli (@jackprandelli) June 16, 2026 Related: Hormuz Fears Ease As Trump, Ghalibaf Virtually Sign US-Iran Deal, But Energy Flows Remain Months From Normal The return of Qatari LNG is a promising sign for easing the physical supply crunch in energy markets. But with normalization in supplies expected to take years, U.S. LNG exports have plugged the supply gap by maximizing liquefaction capacity and tightening vessel loading schedules in recent months. Tyler Durden Tue, 06/16/2026 - 13:20

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Qatar looks to rapidly restart LNG exports once Hormuz reopens: Report

Qatar looks to rapidly restart LNG exports once Hormuz reopens: Report Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 17:00 Source says QatarEnergy is ready to resume LNG production very quickly after US-Iran deal reopens Strait of Hormuz This photo shows QatarEnergy's operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, north of Doha, Qatar, on 2 March 2026 (AFP) Off Qatar is aiming to restore a large portion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity within two months, according to a report published by Bloomberg on Tuesday. A source told Bloomberg that QatarEnergy told buyers it expects to raise output very quickly once safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is restored. The company plans to increase output to about 50 percent of capacity a month to reach roughly 80 percent within two months – a much faster recovery than some analysts and traders expected. However, the remaining 20 percent or so of capacity will likely take years to repair after sustaining damage from Iranian missile strikes in March, according to Bloomberg. Reuters, also citing a source familiar with the subject, reported that the main hurdle will be shipping and logistics, particularly how quickly the company can bring in and load vessels once the strait reopens. This comes as Iran and the US are set to formally sign a memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday aimed at ending hostilities in the region. Although the details of the agreement have not been officially released, US President Donald Trump provided assurances on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” by Friday, allowing for oil supplies to pass through unimpeded.  The Qatari foreign minister expressed optimism that “the MoU will open navigation in Hormuz so that Qatar can continue supplying LNG” but also signalled that major disagreements between the US and Iran would not be resolved in “mere days”. Trump’s European allies reflected similar reservations that trade will resume by the end of the week, and even the right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her support in the process relied on a cessation of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. Ras Laffan LNG complex Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex suffered damage after it was hit by Iranian missiles on 19 March in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes carried out on Iran, which have now killed at least 1,265 people in Tehran since the start of the war. Qatar's LNG is almost entirely produced at the Ras Laffan complex.  UAE made failed attempt to get Saudi Arabia, Qatar to jointly attack Iran: Report Read More » QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters at the time that the damage to its facilities, which wiped out 17 percent of their operating capacity, would likely take up to five years to repair and cost around $26bn. After the air strikes, the company shut down the facility and indicated that it may need to waive liability on long-term contracts for recipient countries of its natural gas supplies whilst infrastructure was being rebuilt.  Qatar supplies around 20 percent of the world’s LNG, and, without any immediate replacement, costs will hit consumers hardest in Asia and Europe. In March, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani called for an “immediate” end to the US-Israeli war on Iran, becoming the only major Gulf energy producer to call for an unconditional halt to the conflict, in contrast to other nations which only issued condemnations of Tehran’s attacks. “Everyone knows who the main beneficiary of this war is, and dragging the whole region into this conflict is,” Thani added. However, Bloomberg reported in April that QatarEnergy has been laying the groundwork for the resumption of activities: operating several production trains at reduced capacity to deliver shipments to neighbours and prepare to increase output when possible. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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