Qatari expansion: Build it and they will come?
The major brake on the Gulf’s state’s ambitions may not be resource, but rather customer appetite
Qatar lifted its 12-year moratorium on further development of the vast offshore North Field in April 2017 and, three years later, is steamrolling forward with the largest LNG expansion the industry has ever seen. If it so desired, Qatar could fund and construct almost unending expansions to what is already a 77mn t/yr, 14-train liquefaction operation. Qatar Petroleum (QP) has emphasised the vast scalability by continuing to broaden its growth plans. The 2017 North Field East expansion (NFE), initially targeting 100mn t/yr export capacity, was upped again to 110mn t/yr in 2018. Then, as if the NFE was not enough, the North Field South (NFS) expansion aims to take capacity to 126mn t/yr. While
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
