According to HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, natural gas will remain a critical component of the global energy mix for several decades to come.
Speaking at the 12th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference in Tokyo, Al-Kaabi emphasized the importance of gas as a safer and reliable base load in the energy mix of most countries, extending well beyond 2050.
Al-Kaabi highlighted the necessity for a clear roadmap with specific targets to achieve a realistic energy transition. He called for a fair and effective transition that balances human flourishing with environmental protection, urging stakeholders not to focus solely on the needs of wealthy and developed nations but also prioritize the requirements of developing countries.
Qatar, in particular, has been actively working towards expanding its gas production capabilities and increasing its Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) export capacity.
QatarEnergy is currently engaged in the development of the eastern side of the North Field (NFE Expansion), which aims to raise Qatar’s LNG liquefaction capacity by 32 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) through the addition of four new LNG mega-trains by 2026.
Additionally, plans have been announced for the southern side of the North Field (NFS Expansion), scheduled to commence operations by 2027. This expansion will contribute an extra 16 mtpa of LNG liquefaction capacity through the deployment of two mega-trains.
Al-Kaabi also mentioned that Qatar is expected to supply nearly half of the global LNG market in the next six years. By 2029, approximately 40% of all new global LNG supplies will be provided by QatarEnergy projects. These initiatives are expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carbon capture and sequestration, as well as the utilization of solar energy.
