Qatar Petroleum claims “business as usual” despite political crisis

In response to the Arabian leading powers cutting ties with Qatar last week, Qatar Petroleum (QP), one of the world’s largest gas exporters, has directed all resources to “mitigate the impact of any action that could hamper energy supplies to its customers across the globe.”

To remind, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates cut ties with Qatar last Monday, accusing it of support for Islamist militants and Iran.

Also, UAE prevented ships coming from or going to Qatar from docking in its Fujairah port, used by Qatari oil and liquefied natural gas tankers to take on new shipping fuel.

QP said over the weekend that the company and its subsidiaries were conducting “business as usual” throughout all its businesses, operations, and facilities.

“We are closely monitoring and assessing all developments, and are prepared to take the necessary decisions and measures, should the need arise, to ensure that we always honor our commitments and obligations to all our customers and partners locally, regionally, and internationally,” said QP.

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar Petroleum’s president and CEO, said: “On behalf of Qatar Petroleum and our operating ventures, I would like to express our gratitude to all our valued customers, and in particular our LNG customers, and would like to assure them of our determined efforts to continue uninterrupted supplies as the world’s most reliable LNG supplier.”

Qatar is the largest LNG producer and exporter, contributing to more than 30 percent of the global LNG trade and supplying customers in all major LNG consuming countries in the world.

Qatar is also a major exporter of natural gas by pipeline to neighboring countries as well as the largest exporter of helium and gas to liquids products (GTL). The company also exports natural gas liquids (NGLs), refined products, petrochemicals, fertilizers, steel, and aluminum.

Reuters last week reported that the Dolphin offshore pipeline carrying Qatari gas to the UAE continued functioning as normal, unaffected by the tensions.

Qatar Petroleum has listed 27 countries in four regions as customers for their products. The countries from Asia, Europe, Americas, and the Middle East include Japan, China, UK, France, Brazil, Mexico, Kuwait, UAE, among others.

Offshore Energy Today Staff