A massive explosion at Ras Laffan's Barzan facility killed 13 workers and injured 66 during restart operations, prompting an investigation.
A blast occurred during restart operations at the Barzan natural gas processing facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, located in northern Qatar, resulting in the deaths of 13 workers and injuries to 66 others.
Qatari officials stated that 12 of the deceased were Indian nationals, while one was from Pakistan. It was reported that the injured are currently receiving treatment.
The explosion took place during the restart activities at the Barzan natural gas processing facility, which is used to meet the country's domestic energy needs. Officials indicated that the incident was caused by a technical malfunction, with no signs of an attack and no direct threat to the public. However, it was noted that the effects of the explosion were felt in areas approximately 72 kilometers away in the capital, Doha.
Ras Laffan Industrial City stands out as one of the most important energy centers where natural gas extracted from Qatar's offshore fields is processed. The region is home to power plants, desalination facilities, gas-to-liquid conversion units, and some of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities.
During the conflicts between the United States and Iran, operations at the Ras Laffan LNG complex were halted, and approximately 17% of the facility's capacity was rendered inoperative due to a ballistic missile attack carried out by Iran. The operator, QatarGas, announced its goal to rapidly restart the liquefaction units, while consulting firm Wood Mackenzie predicts that it may take about 12 weeks for the majority of production to resume.
As natural gas revenues form one of the main pillars of the Qatari economy, the interruption in LNG exports has negatively impacted the country's economy. It is noted that, due to the effects of the conflicts and production losses, Qatar's economy is expected to contract by approximately 9% this year.
Qatar's Minister of State for Energy, Saad al-Kaabi, stated in a press conference on Monday that the recent explosion would not disrupt plans to return to full-capacity LNG production and that no interruptions in the country's local natural gas supply are expected.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
