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Coverage · Iran–Gulf

Key event

Two liquefaction trains are damaged at Ras Laffan

18 Mar 2026 Essential ras-laffan-complex

What happened

An attack damages two of Qatar's fourteen LNG liquefaction trains, representing around 17% of export capacity. QatarEnergy estimated repairs at up to five years as of 19 March. This is a separate event from the 2 March strike that suspended production.

Qatar has no LNG route to market that avoids the Strait of Hormuz, so a multi-year capacity loss here cannot be routed around or replaced at short notice. It transmits as widened price spreads between the American, European and Asian gas markets rather than as physical shortage.

Confidence: High

When18 Mar 2026
Whereras-laffan-complex
KindEnergy · Military
Confidence: High Sources: IEA electricity and energy-security analysis · Congressional Research Service — Iran, the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz Methodology Corrections

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