QatarEnergy turns to US LNG as disruption threatens long-term supply

QatarEnergy is searching for LNG supply to plug supply gaps in both the short-term and long-term.

What: QatarEnergy has agreed to buy 4mn tpy of LNG from Cheniere Energy and is pursuing additional long-term supply arrangements with Woodside Energy and Venture Global.

Why: Damage to Qatari export infrastructure and restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have left the company seeking alternative volumes to fulfil customer commitments while uncertainty persists over timelines for repairs and expansion.

What Next: Negotiations with the two other US suppliers could secure substantial additional volumes as the state-run company looks for a solution to ending its force majeure declaration to its customers.

QatarEnergy is stepping up efforts to secure replacement LNG supplies from the US, securing a sales and purchase agreement with Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) and holding talks with Venture Global (NYSE:VG) and Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS) as disruptions to its operations continue.

The state-run company inked a deal on October 22 with Cheniere Energy, the US’s largest exporter, for the purchase of up to 4mn tonnes per year (tpy) from two export facilities on the US Gulf Coast. The Qatari energy giant is also in the midst of negotiating with Woodside Energy over potential purchases from the Australian company's Louisiana LNG project, which remains in the construction phase. Additionally, QatarEnergy is engaged in talks with Arlington, Virginia-headquartered Venture Global.

NewsBase Horizon, our intelligence and advisory division, views the developments as indication that QatarEnergy is seeking a more stable and reliable response to its supply difficulties than relying exclusively on purchases from the highly volatile spot market.

The deal with Cheniere will see QatarEnergy procure 2mn tpy from the US company’s Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana and a further 2mn tpy from its Corpus Christi facility in Texas. Deliveries are expected to start in 2031 and continue until 2054.

The deal adds a substantial stream of contracted supply to QatarEnergy's portfolio, although with first deliveries not until 2031, QatarEnergy will not immediately resolve its challenges and ability to end its force majeure declaration to many of its customers.

Infrastructure damage drives procurement

QatarEnergy's push to buy super-chilled fuel from the US, comes as uncertainty lingers over how long repairs will take at the Ras Laffan Industrial Complex. The country's principal LNG production complex had two liquefaction trains damaged by attacks by Iran in March, sidelining about 12.8mn tpy of super-chilled fuel from the market.

The attack wiped out about 17% of Qatar’s production capacity and initial estimates believe repairs to the liquefaction units could take between three and five years.

The disruption has been compounded by restrictions on maritime movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for exports of super-chilled fuel from both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. QatarEnergy has consequently sought cargoes from international suppliers to help maintain deliveries to customers despite reduced domestic availability.

The company has extended force majeure notices as the disruption continues. The resulting uncertainty has been particularly significant for Asian buyers, which account for the majority of Qatar's LNG exports and must seek alternative supplies when Qatari cargoes cannot be delivered.

Qatar first opened talks with US suppliers in mid-September as worries began to mount that the damage at the Ras Laffan Industrial Complex could be more severe than first anticipated, with early timetables suggested for restoring the liquefaction trains too ambitious.

Woodside and Venture Global offer additional options

Woodside is discussing a potential agreement covering up to 3mn tpy from its Louisiana LNG project, Reuters reported on October 23.

The proposed facility is still in the construction phase but will boast a production capacity of 16.5mn tpy upon completion. Sources told Reuters that a potential deal could extend for between 15 to 20 years.

Meanwhile, negotiations with the US’s second biggest exporter Venture Global are also underway. According to a report by Reuters on October 22, talks are in an advanced stage, with QatarEnergy expressing interest in purchasing at least another 3mn tpy.

While deals with Cheniere and Woodside involve longer lead times, shorter-term relief to supply woes could come from the ramping up of production at Golden Pass LNG. The Texas facility is a joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, with QatarEnergy the majority owner holding a 70% stake.

The $10bn facility, with a production capacity of 18mn tpy, exported its first LNG cargo in April, however it has yet to significantly ramp up production. Trains two and three are expected to begin producing super-chilled fuel in 2027 and 2028 respectively.

Meanwhile, closer to home, QatarEnergy’s North Field East expansion will see the first of its four liquefaction trains ready for operations in November. The announcement quashes concerns that had emerged that closure of the Strait of Hormuz would delay the arrival of crucial equipment needed for the liquefaction train to be brought online.

Indeed, QatarEnergy finds itself in both a short-term and long-term squeeze. In the near-term, force majeure has already been declared on deliveries to buyers in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan though the end of November. And in Europe, force majeure on deliveries to Italy’s Edison have been extended into December.

QatarEnergy finds itself in an uphill battle to fulfil its deliveries, however its recent deal with Cheniere and potential supply contracts with Venture Global and Woodside would go a long way in alleviating the company’s supply crunch as the second biggest LNG exporter last year looks to get back on its feet.