A liquefied natural gas (LNG) shutdown has led Qatar’s state-owned oil and gas giant QatarEnergy to issue a contractual force majeure notice to LNG buyers.
The move to declare force majeure comes shortly after QatarEnergy halted the production of LNG and associated products in the aftermath of the military campaign the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran.
The firm announced on March 4 that it had declared force majeure to affected buyers, emphasizing that it values its relationships with all stakeholders.
This notice serves as a formal invocation of the force majeure clause, which relieves parties from contractual obligations when unexpected and uncontrollable events make performance impossible.
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The company also closed the production valves for some downstream products in Qatar, including urea, polymers, methanol, aluminum, and other products.
According to Wood Mackenzie, the latest conflict in the Middle East is a reminder that the majority of the world’s energy security still depends heavily on oil and LNG exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
As a result, this maritime traffic route and its closure are interpreted to present a major risk of disruption to global oil, gas, and LNG markets.
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