DOHA — A powerful explosion ripped through Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex, leaving 54 people injured and 18 others missing as workers were restarting operations following a prolonged shutdown caused by regional conflict. Authorities described the incident as a “technical accident” and insisted there was no threat to public safety.
The blast, which occurred on Sunday evening at the Barzan local gas supply facility, sent shockwaves across the region, rattling windows and alarming residents in central Doha more than 70 kilometers away. Qatar’s Interior Ministry confirmed the casualty figures in a statement, adding that specialized rescue teams were actively searching for the missing personnel.
Restart Procedure Turns Catastrophic
The incident unfolded as the energy giant QatarEnergy was attempting to bring the facility back online. The plant had been mothballed after an Iranian missile attack in March struck two of its key gas-processing units, slashing approximately 17% of the country’s LNG export capacity. QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi had previously estimated that repairs from that attack would take three to five years.
Emergency response teams were deployed immediately, and the resulting fire was brought under control, officials said. QatarEnergy has not yet disclosed whether the explosion caused structural damage to the plant, which is a critical artery supplying pipeline gas to local industry and the nation’s power generation sector. Besides natural gas, the facility produces ethane, condensate, liquefied petroleum gas, and sulphur for both domestic use and export.
Geopolitical Fallout and Operational Strain
The accident compounds a volatile period for the Gulf state’s energy infrastructure. Qatar, which hosts a major US military base, has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks during the ongoing conflict. The war forced the evacuation of roughly 10,000 workers from offshore rigs and onshore processing plants earlier this year, though no injuries were reported during the March missile strike.
The strategic Ras Laffan Industrial City is the crown jewel of Qatar’s energy sector, boasting an annual production capacity of 77 million metric tonnes. The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz had trapped roughly 20% of global LNG supply within the Gulf, with Qatar being among the hardest hit due to its lack of alternative export routes. Shipments had only just begun to resume prior to Sunday’s explosion.
As the search for the 18 missing workers continues, the incident raises urgent questions about operational safety during the complex and risky process of restarting large-scale industrial facilities in a conflict zone.
