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Explosion at Barzan LNG Facility Kills 13, Injures 66

6/23/2026

Summary

Al-Kaabi Confirms Blast

An explosion at Barzan supply facility in Ras Laffan City killed 13 and injured 66 on Sunday night.
Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi said the blast stemmed from a technical malfunction, not sabotage, and that crews extinguished the fire.
Search teams still seek 18 missing people as Ras Laffan Port and other LNG facilities stay fully operational, with victims including Indian, Pakistani and other nationals.

Summary

Qatar LNG Disruption

Qatar holds the majority stake in the Ras Laffan LNG hub, which supplies about one-fifth of global LNG and delivered 19 % of worldwide LNG in 2025.
An Iranian missile strike in March hit the Barzan plant, forcing a months-long shutdown.
The loss of output raised concerns of tighter global gas supplies and possible price spikes.
India was the second-largest importer of Qatari LNG after China in 2025.

Summary

QatarEnergy Restart

Restarting Barzan plant required a slow sequential cooldown of LNG trains to avoid thermal shock, making the restart technically demanding.
The Iran-war forced QatarEnergy to evacuate roughly 10,000 workers from offshore rigs and onshore sites, with no injuries reported during the March missile strike.
Satellite data showed heat signatures at several LNG trains, indicating restart preparation, while analysts warned limited Strait of Hormuz traffic could keep shipping bottlenecks.

History

Historical Context

In August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and, during its retreat in February 1991, set fire to more than 700 oil wells and facilities, burning roughly one billion barrels of crude. The resulting oil-price shock spiked crude to $36 per barrel and highlighted how attacks on energy hubs can destabilize global markets, a pattern echoed in later infrastructure attacks.

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Al-Kaabi Confirms Blast

An explosion at Barzan supply facility in Ras Laffan City killed 13 and injured 66 on Sunday night.
Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi said the blast stemmed from a technical malfunction, not sabotage, and that crews extinguished the fire.
Search teams still seek 18 missing people as Ras Laffan Port and other LNG facilities stay fully operational, with victims including Indian, Pakistani and other nationals.

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