Doha, February 02 (QNA) - HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the Managing Director and CEO of QatarEnergy, Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi affirmed that QatarEnergy will, in the coming years, become the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), chemical fertilizers, and helium gas.
Speaking at the opening of the 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2026) in Doha, His Excellency said: "Thanks to the support and guidance of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the State of Qatar continues to move steadily forward in implementing its ambitious strategy and strengthening its presence and standing among the world's leading energy-producing nations."
He added that Qatar's LNG industry is witnessing unprecedented expansion, with ongoing mega-projects set to increase production capacity from 77 million tons per annum to 160 million tons per annum, including 142 million tons from the North Field. This expansion is expected to contribute approximately 40 percent of new global LNG supplies over the next decade.
He continued: "To support this expansion, QatarEnergy has launched the largest LNG carrier construction program in the history of the industry, comprising 128 advanced vessels. To date, 38 carriers have been delivered, with plans to receive a new carrier every three weeks. This will bring the company's fleet to approximately 200 vessels in the coming years-the largest LNG fleet in the world."
His Excellency noted that this strategic expansion also extends to the petrochemicals sector both within Qatar and internationally, with production capacity expected to increase by nearly 235 percent compared to current levels, thereby enhancing the supply of high-value products to global markets.
He emphasized that hosting the LNG2026 in Doha reflects Qatar's leading position in the LNG industry and its pivotal role in strengthening international cooperation and knowledge exchange, contributing to global energy security and the reliability of supply.
His Excellency reiterated QatarEnergy's continued support for global food security through the establishment of a new world-scale urea fertilizer complex, which will increase production capacity by more than 110 percent, positioning Qatar as the world's largest exporter of urea. He added that production capacity for condensates and liquefied petroleum gas is also expected to increase by approximately 60 percent, while helium production will rise by 115 percent, enabling Qatar to assume global leadership in the export of these products.
In the field of renewable energy, His Excellency highlighted QatarEnergy's significant progress in solar energy projects inside and outside the State of Qatar in recent years. Total generation capacity is expected to exceed 5,000 megawatts by 2030, including approximately 4,000 megawatts within Qatar, covering nearly 30 percent of the national electricity grid's requirements.
His Excellency reaffirmed QatarEnergy's commitment to investing across the energy value chain and downstream industries, while adhering to the highest standards of safety, environmental protection, and operational excellence, promoting sustainability, and reducing emissions.
The 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2026) in Doha discusses several key issues, including opportunities for artificial intelligence in the energy sector, the importance of continued investment and innovation, and the role of natural gas in supporting human development -particularly in developing countries, where nearly one billion people still lack access to electricity and basic fuels- underscoring the need to intensify efforts to ensure universal access to energy and achieve comprehensive sustainable development. (QNA)