QatarEnergy Ramps Up U.S. LNG Push Amid Global Expansion
QatarEnergy is pressing ahead with major energy projects in the United States as part of a broader strategy to secure global supply and deepen long-term partnerships, according to Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum 2025, Al-Kaabi confirmed that the company’s U.S.-based LNG project will begin production by the end of this year, marking a major milestone in Qatar’s energy diplomacy and investment abroad.
“This is the largest single investment in LNG export infrastructure in the United States,” Al-Kaabi said, referring to the $10 billion Golden Pass LNG terminal in Texas. QatarEnergy holds a 70% stake in the project, with ExxonMobil owning the remaining 30%. Al-Kaabi emphasized that there is no risk of Qatar losing market share as U.S. LNG exports grow. “We will be the exporters from the U.S.,” he said, highlighting how Golden Pass strengthens Qatar’s position globally rather than competing with it.
QatarEnergy’s U.S. cargoes are expected to target Europe and South America, while Qatari LNG from the Gulf will continue to focus on markets in Asia. Al-Kaabi confirmed the company is in ongoing discussions with both China and India over new long-term offtake deals, aiming to lock in demand across fast-growing economies.
Al-Kaabi stressed that these U.S. ventures are driven by commercial logic, not political pressure. “We’ve had American companies here in Qatar for over 70 years,” he said. “We’re happy to do deals where they are mutually beneficial.” Responding to speculation following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Qatar, Al-Kaabi said there was no pressure to sign agreements. “President Trump is a businessman first and foremost… and understands business very well.”
Looking beyond the U.S., Al-Kaabi provided updates on the North Field East expansion project, which is set to begin production in mid-2026 and will significantly boost Qatar’s LNG output. Including overseas output, QatarEnergy expects to reach 160 million tons of LNG per year. The company’s growing trading arm now handles around 10 million tons annually, with plans to expand as new volumes come online. To support this growth, it is expanding its LNG shipping fleet from 70 to nearly 200 vessels.
Qatar is not worried about a supply glut, Al-Kaabi said, arguing that rising global demand — driven by population growth, electrification, and the energy needs of artificial intelligence — will absorb the wave of new LNG volumes. “We need more energy to support economic growth,” he said. Still, he cautioned that sustained investment depends on price stability: “If oil falls below $60 a barrel, LNG projects won’t move forward.” He stressed the importance of continued global investment in energy infrastructure to avoid future shortages, pointing to $70–$80 per barrel oil as the range needed to maintain current output levels.
As it scales operations in the U.S. and broadens its global footprint, QatarEnergy is positioning itself as both a strategic supplier and a commercial force — adapting to shifting demand patterns while securing long-term supply routes.
📍 Golden Pass LNG Terminal
Location: Sabine Pass, Texas, USA
Ownership: Joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%)
Project Cost: Estimated at $10 billion
Export Capacity:
• Total: 18 million tonnes per annum (mtpa)
• Daily: Up to 2.57 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d)
Liquefaction Trains:
Three trains, each with a capacity of 6.03 mtpa
Storage:
Five existing 155,000 m³ full-containment LNG storage tanks on site
Marine Facilities:
Two existing marine berths — spanning an area equal to 77 football fields — capable of simultaneously accommodating two of the world’s largest LNG carriers
Pipeline Infrastructure:
Upgrades to the existing 69-mile pipeline, including the addition of three miles of 24-inch pipeline, will allow bi-directional flow and improved system hydraulics