Doha, June 22 (QNA) - HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi announced the death of 13 workers at the Barzan Liquefied Natural Gas Plant, following an accidental incident that occurred on Sunday night.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday at the headquarters of QatarEnergy, His Excellency said the explosion and fire that occurred at the Barzan Liquefied Natural Gas Plant on Sunday evening were an "accidental incident" and not an act of sabotage or intentional wrongdoing.

He noted that the competent authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the causes of the incident.

Al Kaabi revealed that the fatalities were of Indian and Pakistani nationalities. Among the 66 injured were citizens and residents from Qatar, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Nepal. He added that none of the injured are in life-threatening condition.

Al Kaabi said the explosion occurred at around 10:30 p.m. inside the plant, operated by QatarEnergy to meet domestic demand for natural gas, noting that the facility had been shut down since December 2025 for necessary maintenance and repair work before resuming operations just two days ago.

The emergency response teams from QatarEnergy, in lockstep with Civil Defense, were able to fully control and put off the fire, the minister added.

Al Kaabi extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and their colleagues, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, and affirming that QatarEnergy provides all kinds  of support to those affected.

  He noted that the LNG facilities affiliated with QatarEnergy, Ras Laffan Port, and all logistics operations linked to the energy sector weren't affected by the incident, confirming the continued production and export of LNG normally.

He emphasized that there are no environmental risks or possibilities of hazardous material leaks because of the fire that broke out at the Barzan LNG plant, noting that the relevant authorities have monitored the situation from the earliest moments and haven't detected any environmental threats requiring concern.

Responding to journalists' questions during the press conference, His Excellency said the top priority at this moment is to follow up on the condition of victims and the injured, and to finalize technical investigations to determine the causes of the incident.

He further explained that discussing the scale of material losses or damage costs is still premature before the completion of assessment and investigation work.

Regarding the impact of the plant's shutdown on the domestic market, Al Kaabi explained that the facility is one of the vital sources of natural gas supply to local industrial sectors, including petrochemicals, fertilizers, and others, however, Qatar has reserve capacities and alternative operational plans that ensure uninterrupted supply.

He underlined that the incident didn't affect LNG exports or the state's contractual obligations with international customers, stressing that production and export operations at other facilities continue normally.

In response to a question about when the plant will return to full operation, the Minister said it is too early to set a clear timeline at present, noting that this will depend on the results of technical investigations and the entry of engineering and maintenance teams into the site to conduct a thoroughgoing damage assessment.

  Al Kaabi also denied that the incident has any impact on Qatar's future plans in the energy sector, affirming that the country's expansion and strategic projects continue according to scheduled timelines.

Regarding safety procedures, he shared that all industrial facilities in the country are subject to strict occupational safety and security regulations, and that the ongoing investigation will examine all possibilities, whether related to human error, technical malfunction, equipment failure, or other operational factors.

He added that the outcomes of the investigation will be utilized to precisely determine the causes of the incident and to take the necessary corrective measures to prevent recurrence, affirming that the Qatari energy sector adheres to the highest globally recognized safety standards.

 The Minister concluded by reaffirming QatarEnergy's thorough commitment to transparency in handling the incident, noting that the outcomes of the investigations will be announced once completed, while continuing to provide support and care to the injured and the families of the victims. (QNA)