Explosion at Qatar’s Natural Gas Terminal After Iranian Bombing

An explosion occurred at Qatar’s major natural gas export terminal on Sunday night. Workers were attempting to resume operations after Iran bombed the facility during the ongoing conflict. The blast, followed by a fire, injured at least 54 people. Another 18 individuals remained missing hours afterward.

Ras Laffan, an industrial area critical for Qatar’s gas exports, was the site of the explosion. This development may wreak havoc in global energy markets because Qatar is one of the leading natural gas producers worldwide. The country previously halted production due to Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, which blocked shipments to clients.

As negotiations over a permanent end to the war allowed Iran’s grip on the strait to loosen, Qatar worked to restart its export terminal. The effort, however, led to an explosion and fire at the Barzan gas supply facility, according to state-run QatarEnergy.

The damage’s extent remains unclear. However, Qatar’s Interior Ministry later confirmed higher casualty numbers, contradicting initial reports of minimal injuries. The Barzan plant has a capacity of nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas daily. This output is mainly used for electricity generation and powering water desalination plants in the Arabian Peninsula’s desert regions.

Qatar holds nearly all of the plant’s ownership, with ExxonMobil holding a minor stake. ExxonMobil has yet to comment on the situation. In March, an Iranian missile strike on Ras Laffan caused extensive damage due to a fire before it was controlled. Consequently, Qatar previously stopped production amid several Iranian attacks.

Qatar shares a vast offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf with Iran, which has significantly contributed to its wealth. This wealth has enabled Qatar to gain international prominence. It has hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, established the Al Jazeera news network, and contributed to diplomatic efforts, including U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland.