A powerful explosion erupted at Qatar’s primary natural gas export facility late Sunday night, injuring at least 54 people and leaving 18 others unaccounted for, according to Qatar’s Interior Ministry. The blast occurred as workers were attempting to bring the terminal back online after it had been struck by Iranian forces during the ongoing conflict.
The explosion took place at the Barzan gas supply facility within the Ras Laffan industrial area, according to state-run energy company QatarEnergy. Initial reports from officials suggested only a small number of injuries, but the Interior Ministry later released significantly higher casualty numbers hours after the incident.
The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined. The Barzan facility had the capacity to process nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day — energy that Qatar relied on mainly for domestic electricity generation and to operate its vital water desalination plants across the Arabian Peninsula.
Qatar holds the vast majority ownership of the plant, with a minor stake belonging to ExxonMobil. The oil company had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of this report.
The explosion comes after Iran struck Ras Laffan with a missile in March, triggering a fire that officials described as causing “extensive” damage before it was brought under control. Qatar had already suspended production at the site due to repeated Iranian attacks.
The disruption adds more uncertainty to global energy markets, as Qatar ranks among the world’s leading natural gas producers. The country had been forced to halt shipments when Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cut off its export routes. With Iran beginning to ease its grip on the strait amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Qatar moved to restart operations — an effort that ended in Sunday’s disaster.
Qatar shares a vast offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf with Iran. Revenue from that gas production has funded Qatar’s rise as a global player, including hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, launching the Al Jazeera news network, and serving as an international mediator — including facilitating talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland.
