Qatar rides the storm
Continuing LNG exports are boosting Qatar's economic resilience in the face of the Saudi-led blockade
Since 5 June, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air blockade against it, the country's economy has had to respond to a major financial shock. Over the first six months of the sanctions, Qatari banks faced $35.4bn in capital outflows and the central bank had to cope with a $21bn drop in foreign exchange reserves. Against this backdrop, and given the general current expectations that a diplomatic solution is still far off, analysts and investors have started to speculate: can Qatar avoid a financial collapse and sustain the currency peg? Will it meet the large capital expenditure commitments associ
Also in this section
23 April 2026
The addition of an oil pipeline to the Power of Siberia 2 gas project could ensure deliveries of Russian oil to China, materially shorten logistics lines between West Siberia and final customers, and—amid disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—offer a land-based export route that reduces exposure to maritime chokepoints
23 April 2026
There is a clear push to bolster exports to Asia amid uncertainty around its North American neighbour, but there are limits to the benefits from the energy crisis
23 April 2026
Shell made the play-opening discovery in Namibia’s Orange basin back in 2022, but its next well could decide whether the project can actually be commercialised
22 April 2026
The failure of OMV Petrom’s keenly watched exploration campaign at Bulgaria’s Han Asparuh block highlights the Black Sea’s uneven track record, despite major successes like Neptun Deep and Sakarya
