Qatar halts LNG production as unprecedented Iranian strikes hit Persian Gulf
One of Saudi Arabia’s largest refineries is among the many targets struck by Iranian forces across the region
Iranian drone strikes targeted major energy assets in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on 2 March, triggering a surge in oil prices as Tehran continued to escalate its operations – following the start of the US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic and the assassination of its supreme leader.
QatarEnergy announced on Monday the suspension of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production after its operational facilities in Ras Laffan were hit by an Iranian missile strike.
“Due to military attacks on QatarEnergy’s operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in the State of Qatar, QatarEnergy has ceased production of LNG and associated products,” the state oil company said in a statement.
It added that it “will continue to communicate the latest available information.” Qatar is among the world's largest LNG exporters
A drone strike also targeted Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, one of the largest in the country. Saudi energy firm Aramco suspended operations at the 550,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery, several media reports said.
Video footage on social media showed massive clouds of smoke over the site.
Saudi state media reported a “limited” fire caused by debris from the interception of two drones targeting the site, adding that the blaze was brought under control. Aramco, which has not yet officially commented, also plays a major role in the global energy supply.
As a result of the latest strikes, international benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 13 percent, to over $82 per barrel. This follows recent Iranian attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s energy crosses on a daily basis.
Natural gas prices have surged by 25 percent.
Energy facilities in the Iraqi Kurdistan region have also come under attack over the past 24 hours. Additionally, Israel has shuttered the major Leviathan and Karish gas fields.
Oil facilities [belonging] to regional countries were not and are not among the targets of Iran's attacks. However, all American and Israeli interests in any part of the region are among Iran's legitimate targets and will all be under attack,” an informed Iranian military source told Tasnim News Agency.
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran and the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israeli targets and US bases and assets across the region have been under unprecedented strikes.