LNG tankers belonging to Qatar’s Nakilat shipping firm are beginning to return to the Gulf in preparation for the resumption of Qatari LNG exports following the US-Iran MoU. Kpler data shows a number of empty Qatari LNG tankers that have been waiting offshore India and Pakistan have begun moving back to the Gulf, while some that were offshore Oman have recently turned off their AIS transponders, pointing to a potential transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar has been able to keep some LNG operations running at low levels by supplying cargoes to Kuwait (MEES, 10 April), and should be able to bring more capacity online within a matter of weeks. Returning to full capacity at all trains except for the two damaged by Iranian attacks may still be a matter of months, but the process is now underway. (CONTINUED - 186 WORDS)
