Ras Laffan LNG Explosion in Qatar Kills 13, Injures 66
Qatar LNG blast delays Ras Laffan recovery as rescue teams continue operations
A catastrophic explosion struck Qatar's main liquefied natural gas processing site at Ras Laffan on Sunday evening, killing at least 13 people and injuring 66 others. As rescue operations continue, energy analysts predict it will take approximately 12 weeks for the facility to bring its operational trains back to full capacity.
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Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Al Kaabi confirmed that the victims included citizens from multiple nations, with 12 identified as Indian and one as Pakistani. The injured represent a broader range of nationalities, including Qatar, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Nepal.
Operational Accident During Restart
According to QatarEnergy, the operator of the facility, an "operational incident" occurred during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City. The blast originated at the Barzan local gas supply centre, which had been intentionally halted since December 2025 for urgent maintenance work and only restarted two days before the incident.
"I would like to emphasise that this was an accident and not the result of sabotage or any hostile act," Mr. Al Kaabi stated during a media conference.
Qatar's Energy Ministry added that the plant's export capabilities remained unaffected by the blast and there posed no environmental risk. However, authorities initially reported 18 people missing following the explosion, with civil defence teams and the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group conducting search operations. All injured are currently receiving treatment, with none reported in life-threatening conditions.
Recovery Timeline: 12 Weeks to Capacity
While immediate export operations were declared safe, experts warn of a significant recovery period ahead. According to Wood Mackenzie, a global research consultancy, it is expected to take Qatar 12 weeks, starting from June 19, to bring its operational trains back to full capacity under a base case scenario.
Tom Marzec-Manser, director of Europe gas and LNG at Wood Mackenzie, noted that satellite imagery had recently detected heat signals across multiple LNG trains at both the North and South facilities. "Since the middle of May, we have also witnessed heat at the South facility, which is where the two trains were damaged," Marzec-Manser said, indicating preparations to restart as quickly as possible.
However, he cautioned that shipping logistics remain the primary bottleneck. "Normal transit of the Strait of Hormuz has yet to be resumed and there are only so many vessels that can be loaded at once," he explained. Consequently, while production ramp-up is underway, full operational readiness is projected late in the summer.
The Barzan explosion is expected to impact the domestic market more than international exports, potentially requiring a curtailment of petrochemical feedstock allocations to prioritize power and water utilities.
Context of Previous Damage
Ras Laffan, the world's largest LNG refinery, has faced severe challenges recently. Prior to the current incident, Iranian missile strikes in March reportedly damaged parts of the complex, destroying Trains 4 and 6. That earlier damage removed approximately 12.8 million tonnes of annual production capacity—equal to about 17 percent of Qatar's LNG exports.
At the time, QatarEnergy declared long-term force majeure on contracts with buyers in China, South Korea, Italy, and Belgium. Minister Al Kaabi estimated the annual lost revenue from those strikes at $20 billion, with repairs originally expected to take three to five years.
Regional Impact and Investigation
The blast was felt across central Doha, causing panic among residents more than 70km from Ras Laffan. India's embassy in Doha confirmed receiving notification from Qatari authorities regarding the death of their citizens.
An investigation into the incident is underway, though QatarEnergy did not provide details on exactly where in the plant the explosion took place or the full extent of the structural damage.
As Qatar—the world's second-largest exporter of LNG—navigates this setback, the focus remains on restoring domestic stability and ensuring the safe resumption of global energy supplies over the coming months.