Letter from the Middle East: Qatar rapprochement could bring gas benefits
Greater GCC harmony might offer an opportunity to untangle some of the Middle East’s notoriously illogical gas dynamics, but LNG looks more promising than pipelines
The Mid-East Gulf’s big political rift has ended with something more than a truce and less than a reconciliation. Three-and-a-half years after Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and others announced an embargo on Qatar, diplomatic relations were restored in early January. Although underlying issues have not been resolved, a return to normal trade is promising for the gas business. Pipeline complications In the early 2000s, Qatar had ambitious plans to export some of its huge reserves by pipeline to its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) neighbours. But, after Saudi Arabia blocked a proposed pipeline to Kuwait that would have run through its territorial waters, only the Dolphin pipeline—which has a c
![](/images/white-fade.png)
Also in this section
26 July 2024
Oil majors play it safe amid unfavourable terms in latest oil and gas licensing bid rounds allowing Chinese low-ball moves
25 July 2024
Despite huge efforts by India’s government to accelerate crude production, India’s dependency shows no sign of easing
24 July 2024
Diesel and jet fuel supplies face a timebomb in just four years, and even gasoline may not be immune
23 July 2024
Rosneft’s Arctic megaproject is happening despite sanctions, a lack of foreign investment and OPEC+ restrictions. But it will take a long time for its colossal potential to be realised