Dozens of people were injured in an explosion at the world's largest LNG export facility

54 people were injured, and another 18 are listed as missing following an explosion and fire at a key Qatari liquefied natural gas processing facility in the industrial city of Ras Laffan—the world’s largest LNG export hub, according to the country’s authorities, as reported by CNBC. The incident occurred during the start-up of production.

According to the Qatari Ministry of Interior, the incident was a technical accident at the Barzan gas facility, which supplies the country’s domestic industry and power sector. QatarEnergy, for which Ras Laffan is the main center for LNG production and export, has not reported whether the facility sustained damage as a result of the explosion.

The Middle East’s energy infrastructure is trying to ramp up capacity following the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, and it remains unclear whether this incident will affect LNG production, Bloomberg notes. The market is closely monitoring the pace of recovery in Ras Laffan, as a rapid resumption of Qatari shipments could lower global gas prices, the agency notes.

Before the war began, Qatar was the world’s second-largest exporter of LNG. The plant in Ras Laffan typically accounts for about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas shipments. In the early days of the conflict—following attacks on energy facilities and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the country halted fuel production. It expects to be able to restore up to 80% of production within two months after the strait reopens, according to Bloomberg.

According to vessel tracking data collected by the agency, four gas carriers—either owned by Qatar’s state-owned shipping company or operating under long-term contracts with it—were sailing through the Strait of Hormuz toward Ras Laffan on Monday.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor