QatarEnergy announced in the first week of March that it was shutting down its LNG plants due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz (MEES, 6 March). The decision was quickly vindicated when Iranian missiles caused long-term damage to two liquefaction trains on 19 March (MEES, 20 March). However, there are indications that some low-level activity continues.
Qatar supplied Kuwait with an LNG cargo in late March (MEES, 27 March), and Kpler shows that the same tanker has supplied Kuwait with two more cargoes from Qatar this month. This indication that some activity is continuing is supported by satellite imagery that shows continued heat signatures at two of the QatarEnergy North Trains. Wood Mackenzie says these heat signatures suggest that the trains may be able to fully restart relatively quickly. Bloomberg reported this week that QatarEnergy is currently looking into restarting operations. (CONTINUED - 140 WORDS)