In brief
A blast at Qatar’s principal liquified natural gas plant in the Ras Laffan industrial zone killed 13 people and injured 66. The explosion, deemed a technical accident, did not threaten energy exports. Workers were restarting a plant paused since December 2025, when a maintenance shutdown had been imposed after earlier regional attacks. Investigations are underway, with preliminary findings indicating no environmental harm, while repairs are expected to cut global LNG output for years.
An explosion at Qatar’s main liquified natural gas facility in the Ras Laffan industrial zone on Sunday night left at least 13 people dead and 66 injured. The event, described by the interior ministry as a “technical accident,” turned the city’s skyline orange as flames erupted across the complex.
Energy Minister Saad Sherida al‑Kaabi ruled out sabotage, citing that the blast was not hostile in nature and would not affect Qatar’s LNG exports. He said the plant had been under maintenance since December 2025 and had only recently been restarted two days before the accident.
The explosion cracked a gas‑supply unit in the Barzan facility, an area that had been shut down earlier that year after the Iranian‑Israeli conflict prompted attacks on Qatar’s infrastructure. Investigation teams are looking into the failure, with preliminary reports indicating no environmental danger, in spite of fuel discharging.
Indian and Pakistani nationals were among the casualties, authorities confirmed, and the India embassy in Doha offered support to families of those lost. QatarEnergy said repairs will cut output by 12.8 million tonnes of LNG for three to five years, potentially pushing global supply back up.
The blast jolted windows across Doha, unsettling residents more than 70 km away. Emergency crews contained the fire and the site is currently being assessed for safety before normal operations resume.
