Qatar's LNG Attacked by Iran, Energy Chief: We Warned from the Start

Qatar’s Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad al-Kaabi, has admitted to having long warned of the significant risks if conflict with Iran triggers 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 Minister, about the consequences that could occur and their detrimental impact on us,” Kaabi said, 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 ongoing 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 revealed that damage to the 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”, the 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 they 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.