Qatar on Friday loaded its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes since halting production and declaring force majeure amid the widening Middle East conflict, with one tanker signalling Bangladesh as its next destination, reported Bloomberg, citing ship-tracking data.
The vessel Al Ghashamiya loaded on Friday at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export terminal and is now waiting in the Persian Gulf.
A second tanker, Lebrethah, departed the terminal Friday with data indicating a cargo on board. The Lebrethah is signalling Bangladesh as its next destination, with an estimated arrival on March 14, although the voyage still depends on safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The key maritime route is effectively closed to commercial shipping amid continuing hostilities in the region, raising uncertainty over whether the tanker will be able to complete the journey.
Industry analysts said the vessel may also remain in the Gulf temporarily as floating storage until the shipping route becomes safe. Earlier in the week, Qatar halted operations at Ras Laffan, the world’s largest LNG export facility, after an Iranian drone attack escalated tensions in the region.
Even before the attack, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had slowed significantly, with the route normally accounting for roughly one-fifth of the world’s LNG trade.
Bloomberg reported that LNG export plants can still load a limited number of cargoes after shutdowns by drawing gas from storage tanks.
QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to Bloomberg requests for comment on the cargo loading or destination. Qatar Energy Minister Sherida Al-Kaabi told the Financial Times on Friday that restarting the Ras Laffan plant could take weeks or even months.
