Qatar LNG Capacity Slashed by 17% After Missile Strikes on Ras Laffan

The targeted missile strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City on March 18 and 19, 2026, represent one of the most significant disruptions to global energy infrastructure in recent years. By successfully hitting critical production facilities, the attackers have effectively removed 17% of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity from the global market. QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy giant, has confirmed that the damage is extensive enough to require a five-year repair timeline, a duration that underscores the technical complexity of the infrastructure involved and the severity of the kinetic impact. This development has forced the declaration of long-term force majeure on several major contracts, sending shockwaves through the global energy trade.

The financial implications for Qatar are staggering, with an estimated $20 billion in annual revenue expected to vanish during the repair period. However, the geopolitical and strategic fallout extends far beyond Doha. India, in particular, finds itself in a precarious position. According to data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), India relies on Qatar for approximately 47% of its total LNG imports. In 2024 alone, India imported 11.30 million metric tonnes (MMT) of LNG from Qatar, valued at $6.40 billion. With nearly half of its gas supply now subject to force majeure, New Delhi faces an immediate energy security crisis that could drive up domestic electricity costs and hamper industrial output.

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In 2024 alone, India imported 11.30 million metric tonnes (MMT) of LNG from Qatar, valued at $6.40 billion.

The technical specifics of the damage focus on LNG producing Trains 4 and 6, which together account for 12.8 million tons of annual capacity. These 'trains' are the heart of the liquefaction process, where natural gas is cooled to -162 degrees Celsius for transport. The destruction of such specialized equipment suggests a sophisticated level of targeting. For Qatar’s international partners, including ExxonMobil and Shell—who hold significant stakes in various Ras Laffan ventures—the incident raises urgent questions about the vulnerability of concentrated energy hubs to modern missile and drone threats. The five-year recovery window suggests that the damage likely affected long-lead items such as heat exchangers or massive compression turbines that cannot be easily replaced.