In a strategic move that reinforces its position as a leading global supplier of clean energy and supports global energy security amid rising demand and mounting challenges, the State of Qatar will begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the first phase of the North Field East (NFE) expansion project by mid-2026.The NFE expansion -- the largest project of its kind in the world -- is part of Qatar’s ambitious plan to double LNG production capacity. Output will increase from the current 77 million tons per year to 110 million tonnes by 2026, and to 126 million tonnes per year by 2027 following completion of the second phase in the North Field South. Upon completion of the North Field West project, which is still in the engineering design phase, Qatar aims to reach 142 million tonnes per yearby 2030.Qatar’s LNG projects are expected to contribute around 40 percent of total new global LNG supply by 2029. The NFE expansion will also include parallel growth in refining, downstream operations, and petrochemical production, generating returns that will support economic diversification, structural reforms, and growth in the manufacturing and services sectors.He added that GDP growth remains strong and is set to accelerate with the start of NFE operations, forecasting growth of 2.4 tonnes in 2025, 5.6 tonnes in 2026, and 7.9 tonnes in 2027. This development will strengthen the Qatari banking sector, which will continue to benefit from robust growth, ample liquidity, adequate capitalization, high asset quality, and strong profitability, he said.In exclusive remarks to QNA, Vice Dean of Business School for Academic and Quality Assurance at Al-Bayt University in Jordan, Omar Khlaif Gharaibeh, said that the State of Qatar is currently investing in one of the largest expansion projects in the history of the gas industry through the development of the North Field, which is the world’s largest natural gas field.He noted that with this step, the production capacity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will rise from 77 million to 126 million tons per year by 2027, an increase of more than 63 tonnes, pointing out that these are not just numbers, but the contours of a new global energy order emerging from Doha.Dr. Gharaibeh pointed out that the energy compass in Europe has shifted in recent years, as the continent has begun seeking reliable partners. In this context, Qatar stands out as a strategic choice through long-term agreements signed with Germany, France, and the Netherlands, he said, explaining that these agreements not only secure gas supply, but also bring stability to markets that sorely lack it in times of geopolitical uncertainty. As major powers seek to reposition themselves in a multipolar world, energy has emerged as a tool of balance and influence, and Qatar, he said, is a quiet power managing smart investments of more than $45 billion in infrastructure, ports, and LNG carriers.He also highlighted that in an era where energy security challenges intersect with environmental transition imperatives, Qatar presents a forward-looking model that focuses on sustainable production, global positioning, and long-term partnerships that are reshaping the future from the depths ofthe Gulf.The expansion project consists of three phases. Phase One (East Field) includes four mega production lines, each with a capacity of 8 million tonnes per year, totaling 32 million tonnes. Phase Two (South Field) includes two additional lines with a total capacity of 16 million tons annually. Phase Three (West Field) is currently under development and is expected to add another 16 million tonnes per year.The West phase of the expansion project is expected to enter the construction stage by 2027, completing Qatar’s national plan to boost LNGexports.Total investments in the North Field expansion project have reached approximately $82.5 billion, with QatarEnergy bearing around $59 billion of the cost. Several major global energy companies are participating in the project, including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Eni, ConocoPhillips, and China’s Sinopec.Qatar has also signed long-term LNG supply agreements with a number of European and Asian countries, most notably Germany, France, the Netherlands, China, and India.  (ICE Doha)

Fonte notizia: QATAR TRIBUNE