Qatar Reinforces LNG Leadership, Reshapes Global Energy Landscape

In a strategic move that reinforces its position as a leading global supplier of clean energy and supports global energy security amid rising demand and mounting challenges, the State of Qatar will begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the first phase of the North Field East (NFE) expansion project by mid-2026.

Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum earlier this year, HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, confirmed that expansion work is progressing on schedule and that the first LNG exports from the North Field East will commence in the middle of next year.

The NFE expansion — the largest project of its kind in the world — is part of Qatar’s ambitious plan to double LNG production capacity.

 Output will increase from the current 77mn tonnes per year to 110mn tonnes by 2026, and to 126mn tonnes per year by 2027 following completion of the second phase in the North Field South. Upon completion of the North Field West project, which is still in the engineering design phase, Qatar aims to reach 142mn tonnes per year by 2030.

Two experts, speaking exclusively to Qatar News Agency (QNA), highlighted Qatar’s role in bolstering the economy, sustaining growth in the coming years, and reshaping global energy markets. Qatar’s LNG projects are expected to contribute around 40% of total new global LNG supply by 2029.

Chief Business Officer at QNB Group, Yousef Mahmoud al-Neama, described the NFE project as one of the largest capital expenditure ventures in the region and the world’s largest single gas field. He noted that the development of eight new LNG production trains, to be implemented in three phases, will be a major driver of economic growth and a cornerstone of Qatar’s energy strategy.

Al-Neama projected that these investments will increase Qatar’s LNG production by 85% by 2030, reaching 142mn tonnes annually. The NFE expansion will also include parallel growth in refining, downstream operations, and petrochemical production, generating returns that will support economic diversification, structural reforms, and growth in the manufacturing and services sectors.

He added that GDP growth remains strong and is set to accelerate with the start of NFE operations, forecasting growth of 2.4% in 2025, 5.6% in 2026, and 7.9% in 2027.

"This development will strengthen the Qatari banking sector, which will continue to benefit from robust growth, ample liquidity, adequate capitalisation, high asset quality, and strong profitability,” he said.

In exclusive remarks to QNA, Vice-Dean of Business School for Academic and Quality Assurance at Al-Bayt University in Jordan, Dr Omar Khlaif Gharaibeh, said Qatar is currently investing in one of the largest expansion projects in the history of the gas industry through the development of the North Field, which is the world’s largest natural gas field.

He noted that with this step, the production capacity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will rise from 77mn to 126mn tonnes per year by 2027, an increase of more than 63%, pointing out that these are not just numbers, but the contours of a new global energy order emerging from Doha.

Gharaibeh pointed out that the energy compass in Europe has shifted in recent years, as the continent has begun seeking reliable partners. In this context, Qatar stands out as a strategic choice through long-term agreements signed with Germany, France, and the Netherlands, he said, explaining that these agreements not only secure gas supply, but also bring stability to markets that sorely lack it in times of geopolitical uncertainty.

He added that economically, Qatar’s expansion will help mitigate global price volatility, as gas prices, currently above $30 per million thermal units, could fall to around $10-$15 by the end of the decade.

Gharaibeh emphasised that Qatar is redrawing the map of the global energy industry. As major powers seek to reposition themselves in a multipolar world, energy has emerged as a tool of balance and influence, and Qatar, he said, is a quiet power, managing smart investments of more than $45bn in infrastructure, ports, and LNG carriers.

He also highlighted that in an era where energy security challenges intersect with environmental transition imperatives, Qatar presents a forward-looking model that focuses on sustainable production, global positioning, and long-term partnerships that are reshaping the future from the depths of the Gulf.

The expansion project consists of three phases. Phase One (East Field) includes four mega production lines, each with a capacity of 8mn tonnes per year, totalling 32mn tonnes. Phase Two (South Field) includes two additional lines with a total capacity of 16mn tonnes annually. 

Phase Three (West Field) is currently under development and is expected to add another 16mn tonnes per year.

The West phase of the expansion project is expected to enter the construction stage by 2027, completing Qatar’s national plan to boost LNG exports.

Total investments in the North Field expansion project have reached approximately $82.5bn, with QatarEnergy bearing around $59bn of the cost. Several major global energy companies are participating in the project, including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Eni, ConocoPhillips, and China's Sinopec.

Qatar has also signed long-term LNG supply agreements with a number of European and Asian countries, most notably Germany, France, the Netherlands, China, and India. These agreements significantly contribute to the stability of global energy supplies.

Qatar is emerging as a reliable strategic partner, particularly due to its adoption of low-emission liquefaction technologies, making Qatari gas among the cleanest globally.

These massive projects fall under the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the national economy, sustainably invest in natural resources, and strengthen the country’s role as a global energy hub.