IEEJ：May 2019 © IEEJ2019

Resilient Qatar’s Natural Gas Development Policy

and Energy Situation Under Its Crisis*

Makoto Nakamura**

More than a year has passed since the severing of diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar by the “Quartet,” a group of

Middle East countries led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since then, resilient Qatar has secured all the

indispensables to overcome this blockade, such as provisions for food stock and raw materials, logistics and finance.

Receiving tailwind from the current crude oil market, in March 2018, the International Monetary Fund issued a statement

that the Qatari economy is “steady and strong,” based on its 2018 Article IV Review.

Owing to this economic situation, Qatar Petroleum is maintaining its aggressive natural gas development policy. In

addition to the merger of national gas companies, before the crisis, QP lifted the moratorium, the self-imposed suspension of

development in the North-Field gas reservoir introduced in 2005. And QP is still expanding the target volumes of the

production of LNG, eyeing the LNG demand expansion in the 2020s and beyond.

Even under crisis, Qatar has successfully continued exporting crude oil and LNG. Fortunately, this crisis has exerted

unexpectedly little influence on stable energy supply to customers, including the Asia Pacific. However, there is no clear sign

as to when the crisis will come to an end or how it will affect us. (Date Written: October 2018)

Keywords: Resilience, Qatar, Natural Gas, Moratorium, LNG

1. Introduction 2. Qatar Crisis developments

In June 2017, the so-called Quartet of Saudi Arabia, the (1) Prolonged crisis
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt declared their In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt joined
severance of diplomatic ties with Qatar, unleashing the Qatar Bahrain in accusing Qatar of supporting the Muslim
crisis. Since then, the Quartet countries have imposed an Brotherhood and other terrorist groups and declaring the
economic embargo on Qatar. However, Qatar has been more severance of diplomatic relations with the country. Later in the
resilient than expected by the Quartet, leaving the fate of the month, the Quartet sent Qatar 13 demands including shutting
crisis in the balance. down the Al Jazeera 24-hour satellite television channel based in
Meanwhile, Qatar announced a moratorium on natural gas Doha, closing a Turkish military base in the country and
development in 2005 and continued to refrain from developing reducing ties to Iran and cutting ties to radical groups. In July,
its North Field gas reservoir further. Qatar lifted the moratorium the four countries proposed six principles summarizing the 13
in April 2017 and has since then retained an aggressive natural demands.
gas development policy while expanding a natural gas The 13 demands and six principles are difficult for Qatar,
production target even under economic and fiscal difficulties branded as a terrorist-supporting country, to accept. Qatar has so
amid the crisis. far refused to respond to these demands, leaving the crisis to be
This paper analyzes Qatar’s resilience under the crisis and prolonged.
measures the impact of the crisis on international energy demand
and supply.

*Written for the 35th Conference on Energy, Economy, and Environment This article is a presenting at the 35th Conference on Energy, Economy,
(January 29, 2019) and Environment that Japan Society of Energy and Resources (JSER)
**Senior Analyst, JIME Center, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan hosted.
Inui Bldg. Kachidoki, 1-13-1, Kachidoki, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 104-0054, Japan
 IEEJ：May 2019 © IEEJ2019

3.1 Qatar as gas producer

Az e rbaijan
Turkey
Arme nia
Turkmenistan Qatar is an oil producing country and a member of the
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. At the same
Syrian Arab
Cyprus Afghanistan
Le banese
Iraq
time, it is known as a major gas producing country.
Iran
Israe l Jordan
Kuwait
The world’s largest gas field straddles the Persian Gulf
Mediator
Egypt Bahrain
border between Qatar and Iran. While the Qatari side of the gas
Q atar
Saudi Arabia
Arab
UAE field is called North Field, the Iranian side is named South Pars.
Quartet
Oman
Sudan Eritre a
Iran
Ye men
Prepared by the
author Ethiopi
Countries friendly to Qatar
Djibouti Somalia

Figure 1 Countries Surrounding Qatar South Pars gas field

North Field gas field

(2) Qatar’s resilience
Facing the crisis, Qatar has arranged goods, logistics
(transportation networks) and assets, demonstrating its strong
attitude of refusing to surrender to the Quartet. Persian Gulf
Qatar
Qatar has asked its friendly neighbors i.e. Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia

Oman to provide indispensables such as fresh food and materials

for building stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Moreover, Figure 2 Qatari and Iranian gas fields3)
as the world’s largest LNG exporter, Qatar has taken advantage
of its sovereign wealth fund and foreign currency reserves to Qatar’s natural gas reserves at the end of 2017 stood at
resist the Quartet’s withdrawal of their funds from the country 24.9 trillion cubic meters, the third largest following Russian and
and successfully secure the liquidity of Qatari commercial Iranian levels. Its gas production in 2017 came to 175.7 billion
banks1). m3, the fifth biggest after U.S., Russian, Iranian and Canadian
Meanwhile, the current crude oil market has served as a levels4). From 2006 to 2017, Qatar retained its position as the
tailwind for Qatar. The country has assumed the crude oil price world’s largest LNG exporter5).
at $45 per barrel for its 2018 budget. The West Texas
Intermediate futures price remained above the assumed level in 3.2 Natural gas market changes
the first 10 months of 2018, indicating that its projected revenues (1) Price drop
would be revised upward for 2018. In the global LNG market, spot prices wildly fluctuate in
Under such situation, the International Monetary Fund has line with crude oil prices. As prices for LNG destined for Asia
rated the Qatar economy as “steady and strong.” In a concluding have been indexed to crude oil prices under long-term contracts,
statement in March 2018 after an official IMF staff visit to Qatar LNG export prices have declined automatically in line with
for consultations to monitor local economic developments under weak oil prices since 2014. The average LNG import price for
Article 4 of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement2), the IMF said, Japan declined rapidly to $10 per million British thermal unit in
“The direct economic and financial impact of the diplomatic rift FY20156).
between Qatar and some countries in the region is fading.”
“Macroeconomic performance remains resilient.” The IMF also (2) Intensifying competition
said, “The medium-term macro-financial outlook is expected to In recent years, the natural gas market has seen the rise of
remain broadly favorable.” Australia and the United States as new leading gas exporters. On
the other hand, Russia known as the world’s largest pipeline gas
3. Natural gas development policy turning aggressive exporter has expanded into LNG export. In a bid to increase
Qatar’s resilience has brought about a robust economy, production at the South Pars gas field, Iran signed a Phase 11
supporting its aggressive policy on energy, particularly natural development agreement with France’s Total in July 2017, after
gas, even under the crisis. nuclear sanctions were lifted.
 IEEJ：May 2019 © IEEJ2019

3.3 Qatar’s choices (3) Revising production target upward

(1) Integrating state-run LNG companies In July 2017 after the Qatar crisis started, QP CEO Al
As the natural gas market was changing in that way, Qatar Kaabi announced to double the natural gas production target
first chose to rationalize the LNG sector by integrating state-run from 2 billion ft3 as given when the moratorium was lifted. The
LNG companies. upward revision would boost Qatar’s LNG production from 77
In December 2016, state-run Qatar Petroleum’s President million tons per year to 100 million tons per year9).
and Chief Executive Officer Saad Sherida Al Kaabi announced CEO Al Kaabi explained that with the conclusion of further
to integrate Qatargas and Rasgas under the QP umbrella. In technical studies after lifting the gas development moratorium,
January 2018, he declared their integration into Qatargas7). For QP decided that the best option would be to double the
the Qatargas LNG trains, QP, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, production target to 4 billion ft3 (about 114 million m3). He also
Total, Mitsui & Co. and Marubeni Corp. have forced a joint noted that this project would strengthen Qatar’s position as the
venture. Such venture for Rasgas LNG trains has been founded world’s largest LNG producer and exporter in line with QP’s
by QP, ExxonMobil, South Korea’s KOGAS, Itochu Corp. and objective of becoming one of the best national oil and gas
LNG Japan. companies in the world with a strong international presence.
The integration of old Qatargas as the world’s largest LNG In September 2018, the annual LNG production target was
company and Rasgas as the second largest into the new Qatargas raised from 100 to 110 million tons10). QP explained that it
was a measure for the age of low resources prices, indicating decided to raise the production target based on studies by a
that Qatar has chosen to thoroughly streamline its LNG business front-end engineering and design contractor11）that was given the
and cut relevant costs. contract in March 2018.
The new Qatargas has annual LNG production capacity at At the 7th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference in Nagoya
77 million tons per year, running 14 LNG trains including six in October 2018, Qatari Energy and Industry Minister and QP
large ones each with capacity of 7.8 million tons per year. Chairman Mohammad Al-Sada emphasized Qatar’s attitude of
maintaining its aggressive natural development policy even
(2) Lifting gas development moratorium under the crisis and vowed to realize its LNG production
Next, Qatar chose to lift the self-imposed gas development capacity of 110 million tons by 2024 in view of robust future
moratorium. Since 2005, Qatar had imposed the moratorium that LNG demand, specifying the numerical target.
it said had been required for studying how rapid, large-scale gas QP pointed out that French energy company Total’s
development and production expansion affected the North Field withdrawal from Iran’s South Pars gas field development under
gas field. the resumed Iran nuclear sanctions and a stalemate in its natural
The study had been viewed as almost completed in 2008 gas development would rather create a business chance for
but was renewed then. Apparently, the renewal indicated that Qatar12）.
Qatar was willing not only to continue the study but also to
refrain from irritating Iran owning the South Pars gas field (4) Continuing stable supply
neighboring the North Field. At the abovementioned LNG Producer-Consumer
In April 2017, QP lifted the 12-year moratorium and Conference in October 2018, Qatari Energy and Industry
announced to resume the development of the North Field gas Minister Al-Sada emphasized Qatar’s strong self-confidence in
field8). “We have completed most of our projects and now is a its stable LNG supply, noting that the country had seen no delay
good time to lift the moratorium,” QP CEO Al Kaabi said in a in LNG shipments even under the “unjust and illegal” economic
press conference. "Qatar Petroleum’s technical studies and embargo. Qatar’s LNG exports in 2017 stood at 103.4 billion m3,
assessment of the North Field have confirmed the potential for almost unchanged from 201613).
developing a new gas project.” QP would attain a target Meanwhile, Qatar has sustained its pipeline natural gas
production capacity of 2 billion cubic feet (about 57 million m3) exports to the UAE that has declared the severance of its
per day for exports in five to seven years under the project, diplomatic ties with Qatar, avoiding power shortages in the UAE.
according to the CEO. Qatari natural gas is transported to Oman via the UAE without
any disruption.
 IEEJ：May 2019 © IEEJ2019

Notes
1) Makoto Nakamura; Qatar: Resilience under Rift, Trend
Analysis, JIME Center, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan,
September 2018, p.1-17
2) International Monetary Fund;
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/03/05/ms030518-qa
tar-staff-concluding-statement-for-the-2018-article-iv-mission
(Access date: Oct. 25, 2018)
3) Hydrocarbons Technology;
Figure 3 Dolphin Gas Project 14) https://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/qatargas/atta
Qatar’s pipeline natural gas exports in 2017 remained chment/qatargas4/ (access date: 2018.10.25)
almost unchanged from the previous year at 18.4 billion m3 15). 4) BP; Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2018, p.26-28
QP said it would continue natural gas supply to the UAE under 5) Research Gate;
the existing contract. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Trend-of-LNG-export-by-m
ajor-suppliers-2000-13-Mt-Source-Petroleum-Economist-2015_f
4. Conclusion ig1_314416599 (access date: 2018.10.25)
While the Qatar crisis has been prolonged, Qatar has taken 6) BP; Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2018, p.33
advantage of its abundant sovereign wealth fund and foreign 7) Qatargas;
currency reserves based on its robust economy to address the http://www.qatargas.com/english/MediaCenter/Pages/Press%20
abnormal crisis with goods, logistics and assets and demonstrate Releases/start-operations-by-the-new-Qatargas.aspx
its resilience. This led the IMF to rate the Qatari economy as (access date: 2018.10.25)
“steady and strong.” Qatar has built on the robust economy to 8) Qatar Petroleum;
retain its aggressive natural gas policy. Even under the crisis, http://www.qp.com.qa/en/MediaCentre/Pages/ViewNews.aspx ,
Qatar lifted its gas development moratorium, raised its gas 03-April-2017 (access date: 2018.10.25)
production target and merged state-run natural gas companies to 9) Qatar Petroleum ；
defend its market share. http://www.qp.com.qa/en/MediaCentre/Pages/ViewNews.aspx ,
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, has projected 11-July-2017 (access date: 2018.10.25)
global natural gas consumption to increase by about 71% from 10) Qatar Petroleum;
3.5 trillion m3 in 2016 to 6.0 trillion m3 in 205016). At a time http://www.qp.com.qa/en/MediaCentre/Pages/ViewNews.aspx ,
when brisk natural gas demand is anticipated, Qatar’s aggressive 26-September-2018 (access date: 2018.10.25)
natural gas development attitude is expected to contribute to 11) Chiyoda Corporation;
expanding LNG supply. Given Qatar’s LNG and natural gas https://www.chiyodacorp.com/media/180322.pdf
exports on record, its position as a stable natural gas supplier (access data: 2018.10.25)
will remain unshaken even amid uncertainties about the fate of 12) Makoto Nakamura; Qatar: Participation in Annual Qatargas
the crisis. Reception, Trend Analysis, JIME Center, Institute of Energy
Even under the crisis, Qatar’s crude oil and LNG exports to Economics, Japan, October 2018, p.24-27
Japan have remained unchanged from before the diplomatic rift. 13) BP; Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2018, p.34
Fortunately, the crisis’s impact on energy supply to Japan has 14) Dolphin Energy;
been limited. However, the Quartet’s severance of diplomatic http://www.dolphinenergy.com/operations
ties with Qatar has led Qatar to enhance its approach to Iran. If (access date: 2018.10.25)
Saudi Arabia and pro-Saudi countries confronting Iran further 15) BP; Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2018, p.34
deepen their rift with Qatar, the Middle East may be destabilized 16) Institute of Energy Economics, Japan: IEEJ Outlook 2019,
further. Such development may inevitably affect Japan. p.41
(As of October 2018)

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