Qatar's US LNG Bet Signals a New Energy Order

By Ron Bousso

LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) – Turning to your biggest rival is rarely a sign of confidence. Yet Qatar’s decision to sign long-term contracts for US supplies suggests the world’s second-largest LNG exporter is increasingly concerned that instability in the Gulf could undermine its ambitious expansion plans.

QatarEnergy last week signed a 20-year agreement to buy 3 million metric tons per year (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas from Woodside Energy’s facilities in Louisiana. A week earlier, it signed agreements with Cheniere Energy for up to 4 mtpa from its Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi plants through 2054.

Deliveries