Qatar has extended its force majeure period regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to buyers in Europe and Asia by another month.
Sea-news.az reports that Qatar’s state-owned company, QatarEnergy, announced this week in a notice to Pakistani buyers that LNG shipment cancellations will continue through October. Sources added that the force majeure status for supplies to Bangladesh has also been extended beyond the end of September.
The company stated that supply halts from Qatar have been extended until early November, with a growing number of shipments affected. Additional European traders have also begun receiving similar notifications. The state-run energy giant has not yet issued an official comment on the matter. According to experts, Qatar is exercising extreme caution when transporting cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz, as LNG carriers are far scarcer and represent much higher-value, sensitive infrastructure compared to conventional oil tankers.
Recall that following attacks on two tankers in July, Qatar virtually suspended LNG shipments through the strait. The ongoing lack of a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran continues to restrict flows through this vital chokepoint, which handled roughly one-fifth of global LNG supplies last year. Amid the severe supply tightness, LNG prices in Europe and Asia remain roughly twice as high as pre-war levels.
