Multi-year LNG pacts strengthen Qatar’s bilateral ties with Malaysia and Japan

February 4, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Qatar’s state-owned oil and gas giant QatarEnergy has sealed long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals with Malaysia’s Petronas, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and JERA, the country’s largest power generation company.

An offshore platform with a large vessel surrounded by several smaller vessels next to it — North Field East (NFE) LNG expansion project (for illustration purposes only); Source: QatarEnergy

Thanks to a 20-year sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Petronas, QatarEnergy will supply two million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG from Qatar to Malaysia, starting in 2028. This is the first long-term LNG SPA between the two companies, said to reflect the continued confidence and trust between the duo and underscore their shared vision for a sustainable energy future and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

The deal was signed by Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, and YM Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Kamadjaja Aziz, President and Group CEO of Petronas, during a special ceremony held in Doha on the sidelines of the 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2026).

Commenting on this, Minister Al-Kaabi said: “QatarEnergy is pleased to enter into this new LNG SPA with Petronas, which highlights our continued commitment to support the growing energy needs of Malaysia as well as our customers across the globe.”

The Persian Gulf state’s LNG giant also inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and JERA to provide Japan with additional LNG quantities during emergency situations, stipulating the firm’s response in the event of unforeseen emergencies that could affect the Asian country, such as natural disasters.

The MoU also entails mechanisms for bilateral consultation on appropriate response measures in such situations, emphasizing what QatarEnergy describes as its critical role in ensuring energy security to all its customers through access to supplemental LNG volumes during emergencies and supply disruptions.

In addition, the arrangement is perceived to underscore the State of Qatar’s ability to provide stable LNG supplies alongside its established reputation as a reliable and trustworthy energy provider.

This is further exemplified by QatarEnergy’s 27-year sales and purchase agreement with JERA for the supply of up to 3 million tons per annum of LNG from Qatar to Japan, with deliveries set to begin in 2028.

The agreement was signed by QatarEnergy’s CEO and Yukio Kani, Global CEO and Chair of Jera, in the presence of senior executives from both companies.

Al-Kaabi underlined: “We are delighted to further strengthen our long-standing relationship with JERA, a strategic partner and one of the leading LNG players globally, and to reaffirm our continued commitment to supporting Japan’s long term energy needs.

“Our collaboration, which dates back to the early 1990s, is a testament to the enduring ties between our two companies and to our common desire to ensure that safe and reliable LNG supplies continue to support Japan’s economic development.”

These LNG deals come shortly after the Qatari player penned a MoU with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) for cooperation in the energy and gas spheres.