Qatar extends force majeure on LNG supplies by one month as Strait of Hormuz tensions persist

QatarEnergy has pushed back its force majeure declarations on liquefied natural gas deliveries by another month, citing continued uncertainty over when the Strait of Hormuz will fully reopen to commercial tanker traffic. The extension affects buyers across Europe and Asia, stretching potential delivery timelines into mid-September or even October 2026. What happened at Ras Laffan and why it still matters The trouble traces back to early March 2026, when Iranian missile strikes damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex. The attack knocked out approximately 12.8 million tons per annum of processing capacity, a 17% hit to Qatar’s total output. QatarEnergy declared force majeure shortly after. Since then, the broader conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz in a state of persistent disruption. Iranian attacks on maritime trade continued into July 2026, making the shipping lane too risky for normal operations. QatarEnergy has extended the force majeure multiple times through spring and summer, with previous extensions pushing dates to mid-June, then mid-August, and now into late September or October. The buyers feeling the squeeze The latest extension impac...