Iranian Attack Hits Qatar's LNG, Energy Chief: We Warned from the Start

Qatar’s Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad al-Kaabi, admitted that he had long warned of the significant risks if conflicts with Iran led to attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf region. These warnings were conveyed to executives of partner oil and gas companies, including US officials, well before the attacks actually occurred. “I have always reminded them, speaking with executives of oil and gas companies working with us, as well as the US Energy Secretary, about the consequences that could occur and the harmful impacts on us,” Kaabi stated, quoted from Reuters on Saturday (21/3/2026). QatarEnergy is known to partner with several global energy giants such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. Missile and drone attacks in the three-week conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran have damaged tankers, refineries, and critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf region. The greatest impact has been on the Ras Laffan complex, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility operated by QatarEnergy. Kaabi disclosed that the damage to this facility, built with a $26 billion US investment, could disrupt LNG supplies to Europe and Asia for up to five years. The most critical damage occurred to the “cold box”, a main component in the gas cooling process before it is shipped in liquid form. “That main unit is completely destroyed,” Kaabi said. The cooling facility is part of two out of a total of 14 processing units (trains) at the Ras Laffan complex. Kaabi emphasised that his side received no prior warning regarding Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which triggered the escalation of the conflict. The South Pars field is part of the world’s largest gas field, also connected to Qatar’s North Field.