Qatar LNG Exports Continue: Minister

Qatar's exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, India, South Korea and China have not been affected by a blockade of Doha by four Arab states, energy minister Mohammad bin Saleh Al Sada said in a statement July 10.

He said Qatar's exports to the four Asian countries accounted for nearly three quarters of the country's total LNG exports. 

Exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Bahrain accounted for less than 8%, the statement said, citing comments made by the minister at the World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul. Qatar remains "committed to all its agreements with its partners and is determined to maintain this status despite the illegal and unjust embargo imposed on it," the statement said, referring to LNG exports.

Egypt and the UAE are currently the only two countries hostile to Qatar that until recently imported its LNG: in 2016 they imported respectively 4.78mn mt and 0.94mn mt out of a global total of 79.62mn metric tons imported from Qatar, according to the International LNG Importers Group (GIIGNL).

Exports westwards, to Europe, are also continuing, despite the need to use the Suez Canal. Egypt is one of the four countries that cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in early June and presented it with a list of demands that Qatar last week refused to comply with. 

Suez Canal chairman Mohab Mamish, a retired navy admiral, said in a statement July 7 that the canal authorities are abiding by the government's severing relations with Qatar. However, international treaties prevent them from barring Qatari ships from using the canal as a passage. He said Qatari ships will be barred from using Egyptian ports and the canal's economic zone.

Qatari LNG tanker Al Mafyar arrived at the South Hook terminal at Milford Haven in the early hours of July 10, according to the port authority's website. This is yet another example of Qatari shipments continuing to be safely delivered to market.

Gas supplies are also continuing through the 2bn ft³/day Dolphin Energy pipeline to UAE and Oman.

William Powell