Qatar ramps up LNG marketing as NFE work begins

Construction of the world’s largest-ever LNG export project is underway, but it has a long way to go to secure deals for 48mt/yr of new capacity

October was a hectic month for Qatar’s LNG industry and the numerous foreign partners in the projects that make up the North Field Expansion (NFE), the world’s largest-ever LNG project. The month began with a ceremony at Ras Laffan Industrial City to mark the laying of the project’s foundation stone by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Several more ceremonies were held over ensuing weeks as long-term SPAs were signed with major foreign partners. From an engineering perspective, Qatar now faces the immense challenge of building six “mega-trains”, each around 1km long and capable of liquefying 8mt/yr of gas. “The Qataris have a lot of LNG to sell” Corbeau, Center on Global Energy Pol