Rajeev Sharma :- A major energy complex in Qatar that hosts the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility sustained significant damage as attacks on energy infrastructure intensified across the Persian Gulf.
Authorities said Iran fired missiles at Ras Laffan Industrial City late Wednesday, with one striking the site while four others were intercepted. The facility had previously supplied roughly 20% of global LNG before operations were halted earlier this month. Around the same time, Abu Dhabi shut down its Habshan gas facilities after debris from a thwarted strike landed in the area.
“A retaliatory attack on Ras Laffan is exactly what the global natural gas market feared the most,” said Tom Marzec-Manser, Europe gas and LNG director at consultancy Wood Mackenzie Ltd. “We’re yet to know which part of the industrial complex has been damaged, but either way it’s going to be bullish for gas prices when the market opens on Thursday.”
Another strike early Thursday caused a fire at Ras Laffan, which Qatari officials said they were working to contain.
These incidents signal a further escalation in regional tensions, following a series of recent attacks on oil and gas assets. Energy prices had already surged earlier after Israel targeted Iran’s massive South Pars gas field. Iran then warned that energy infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates could be considered legitimate targets.
Qatar condemned the attack as a serious escalation and a clear breach of its sovereignty, calling it a direct threat to national and regional stability. The country also ordered Iranian military and security personnel, along with related staff, to leave within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi authorities confirmed there were no casualties at the Habshan site. The facility, operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, is among the largest onshore gas processing plants globally, with the capacity to produce over 6 billion cubic feet of gas per day—enough to meet the needs of countries like South Korea.
