New Delhi: A missile strike by Iran on the massive liquefied natural gas facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City has intensified turmoil in global energy markets, forcing a halt to production at one of the world’s most important gas export hubs in Qatar.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions across Middle East following the conflict triggered by military strikes involving the United States and Israel. In response, Iran has carried out missile and drone attacks targeting strategic assets in the Gulf region, including energy infrastructure and locations linked to foreign military presence.
Ras Laffan hosts the largest LNG export facilities in the world and is a central pillar of Qatar’s energy industry. The shutdown has disrupted production and raised fears of supply shortages in global natural gas markets. Qatar remains among the world’s leading LNG exporters, alongside the United States, Australia and Russia.
This is not the first disruption in recent weeks. Earlier in March, Iranian missile attacks targeted gas fields linked to Qatar’s energy sector, forcing QatarEnergy to suspend production temporarily. The strikes were reportedly retaliation for an earlier attack on Iran’s South Pars Gas Field, part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve.
Meanwhile, tensions have severely affected maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route that normally carries around one fifth of the world’s oil supply. With the waterway turning into a high risk zone, hundreds of cargo vessels have remained stranded near major Gulf ports, deepening concerns over global supply chains and rising energy prices.
For India, the disruption could have significant consequences. The country imports roughly half of its natural gas needs, and about 40 percent of its liquefied natural gas purchases come from Qatar. This means nearly one fifth of India’s total LNG supply depends on Qatari exports.
India currently consumes about 189 million metric standard cubic meters of natural gas per day, with roughly half produced domestically. The recent disruptions have already affected a substantial portion of imported supply, forcing state run gas companies to seek alternative LNG shipments from other international suppliers while preparing for potential reductions in industrial and power sector consumption.
