An explosion at a liquefied natural gas processing facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial zone has killed at least 13 people and injured 66 others, according to Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi.
The blast occurred at a key export terminal, raising immediate concerns about potential disruptions to the country’s LNG output, which is critical to global supply chains.
Energy markets reacted swiftly to the news, with Brent crude and natural gas futures ticking higher as traders priced in the risk of a temporary supply shock.
The incident adds to existing pressures on energy markets, which have been volatile amid broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
While the full extent of the damage to the facility remains unclear, the location’s strategic importance means even a short-term outage could tighten regional supply.
Qatar is one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, and the Ras Laffan complex is a hub for its gas production and export operations.