Qatar Energy Confirms Stable Gas Output Despite Israeli Strike on Shared Iran-Qatar Field
Qatari LNG production remains uninterrupted at North/South Pars field, but regional tensions raise concerns over global gas supply and shipping routes
Watan-QatarEnergy announced on Tuesday that natural gas production remains stable at the North Field/South Pars, and gas supplies continue uninterrupted, following an Israeli airstrike on the world’s largest gas field on Saturday that led Iran to partially suspend production.
Qatar, the world’s third-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter after the U.S. and Australia, shares the South Pars gas field with Iran.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari stated:”Regarding the Pars Field, we believe this was an uncalculated step… The companies operating there are international, and the field—especially the North Field—has global involvement. So far, gas supplies are continuing as normal.”
He added during a weekly press conference in Doha:”However, this reckless targeting raises global concerns about gas supply security.”
According to two sources speaking to Reuters on Tuesday, QatarEnergy instructed oil tankers to remain outside the Strait of Hormuz, only entering the Gulf one day prior to scheduled loading.
Fears of disrupted LNG supply caused prices to rise on the Japan-Korea Marker (JKM)—Asia’s key LNG benchmark. According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, LNG prices climbed to $13.948 per MMBtu on Tuesday, up $1.19 since June 12, a day before Israel’s June 13 strike on Iran.
The North Field/South Pars lies offshore from Iran’s southern Bushehr province and accounts for the majority of Iran’s gas output. Iran ranks as the third-largest gas producer globally after the U.S. and Russia.
According to ICIS data, LNG loading at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal, which typically handles around 90 shipments per month, continues at regular pace.
Robert Songer, an LNG analyst at ICIS, noted:”There appear to be over 12 ships currently unladen near the port. Normally, these would be expected to load quickly, but we’ll see if delays arise.”
The LNG tanker “Al Huwailah”, which recently delivered cargo to India, is reportedly on its return to Ras Laffan but is sailing slowly and avoiding the Strait of Hormuz.
Joe Katayama, LNG analyst at data firm Kpler, explained:”The current pattern—more ships paused during the summer—is typical. The only tangible impact so far seems to be minor re-routings and slight loading delays.”
