A major gas explosion at a natural gas processing facility in Qatar has killed at least 13 workers and injured dozens more, according to state-owned QatarEnergy. The incident occurred at the Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Emergency services have contained the fire, but the blast has raised immediate concerns over global gas supply stability as European nations brace for winter demand.
Qatar is the third-largest LNG exporter globally, supplying roughly 21% of global LNG imports. The Ras Laffan facility processes nearly 77 million tonnes of LNG annually. British energy firms including BP and Shell have activated emergency protocols to assess potential disruption to their supply chains. The UK imports approximately 6% of its natural gas from Qatar, with volumes increasing under long-term contracts signed in 2021.
Dr. Fatima Al-Kuwari, a gas market analyst at the Energy Institute, stated: “Any prolonged outage at Ras Laffan could tighten an already stressed market, particularly if this occurs during peak demand weeks. The global gas balance is fragile, and we are monitoring storage levels across Europe closely.”
Initial reports from the facility indicate damage to a secondary processing unit, but the primary export terminal remains operational. QatarEnergy has not provided a timeline for full restoration. UK energy supplier Centrica said it would “utilise diversified supply sources” to meet customer demand, while National Grid confirmed that the UK’s gas storage sites are currently 78% full.
This incident compounds existing pressures on global energy markets. The UK benchmark gas price rose 4.2% in morning trading on news of the explosion. Analysts warn that if the outage extends beyond two weeks, additional LNG cargoes currently destined for Asia may be redirected to Europe.
The explosion, whose cause is under investigation, serves as a stark reminder of the brittleness of hydrocarbon infrastructure in an era of extreme weather and geopolitical instability. As the world deepens its dependence on LNG for baseload power, supply chain vulnerabilities become ever more critical.
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office has advised British nationals in the Ras Laffan area to follow local safety instructions. Officials are in contact with the Qatar Energy Ministry regarding any potential British casualties, though none have been confirmed.
