An explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial area has derailed efforts to restart a key liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal, injuring 54 people and leaving 18 others missing.
The incident occurred on Sunday night as workers attempted to resume operations at the facility, which had been damaged by an Iranian airstrike during the recent conflict.
The blast caused a significant fire, forcing an immediate halt to the restart sequence and raising urgent questions about the timeline for restoring full export capacity.
Natural gas prices surged in response to the news, with TTF futures jumping sharply as traders reassessed the supply outlook.
The incident underscores the fragility of global energy infrastructure in the wake of geopolitical instability.
Qatar is one of the world’s largest LNG exporters, and any prolonged disruption at Ras Laffan could tighten an already constrained market, particularly in Europe and Asia, where demand remains robust.