Explosion at Qatar Gas terminal injures 54, leaves 18 missing

An explosion tore through Qatar’s key natural gas export terminal Sunday night as workers tried to resume operations after Iran bombed it during the war, causing a fire that injured at least 54 people. Another 18 people remained missing hours later.

The blast at the Ras Laffan industrial area could trigger further disruption in global energy markets, particularly as Qatar is one of the world’s largest natural gas producers. Qatar had suspended production after Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz prevented shipments from reaching customers.

With Iran easing its grip on the strategic waterway as negotiations continue over a permanent end to the war, Qatar began efforts to restart exports. On Sunday night, that work sparked an explosion and fire at the Barzan gas supply facility, state-owned QatarEnergy said.

The full extent of the damage remains unclear. Officials initially reported only a handful of injuries, but Qatar’s Interior Ministry later released significantly higher casualty figures.

The Barzan plant has the capacity to produce nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day, supplying fuel primarily for Qatar’s electricity generation and its vital desalination plants across the Arabian Peninsula.

Qatar owns nearly all of the facility, with a small stake held by ExxonMobil. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In March, an Iranian missile struck Ras Laffan, igniting a fire that authorities said caused extensive damage before it was brought under control. Qatar had already halted production there because of the attacks.

Qatar shares its massive offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf with Iran. The wealth generated from that field has helped finance projects including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Al Jazeera news network and Qatar’s role as an international mediator, including the ongoing negotiations in Switzerland between Iran and the United States.