New york: HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, has clarified that LNG, Qatar's main export commodity, cannot be transported via pipelines. During the Qatar Economic Forum 2026 in New York City, Minister Al Kaabi expressed gratitude to Qatar's neighbors for allowing the use of their territories for a pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, but highlighted the impracticality of transporting LNG by this method.
According to Qatar News Agency, Minister Al Kaabi explained that LNG must be transported as gas and then liquefied at receiving terminals, a process that requires building redundant facilities already under construction in Qatar as part of the North Field expansion project. He emphasized that this approach makes no economic sense and stated the decision not to use pipelines was based on commercial and technical criteria.
Minister Al Kaabi also addressed the damage to Qatar's gas production facilities following recent attacks on Ras Laffan, resulting in damage to two LNG trains and a GTL plant. He noted that repairs on the GTL train are expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2027, while repairs on the two LNG trains will take three years. He assured that Qatar is ready to resume normal operations within weeks of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Discussing the critical role of the Strait of Hormuz, Minister Al Kaabi rejected the notion that it is obsolete, highlighting its importance for trade across various products. He stressed the necessity of maintaining good relations with neighboring countries around the Gulf.
Moreover, Minister Al Kaabi addressed QatarEnergy's strategic moves, stating that Qatar is poised to become the largest LNG trader globally. He mentioned the establishment of a significant LNG trading organization and outlined ongoing projects in the United States, including shipments from the Golden Pass LNG and the development of the largest ethane cracker at the Golden Triangle Polymers project, which is set to start operations soon.
