Qatargas, a unit of QatarEnergy and the operator of the giant 77 mtpa Ras Laffan LNG export complex, has denied media reports of unplanned maintenance at its liquefaction trains.
Several media reports said during the last week that QatarEnergy had shut down the sixth and seventh liquefaction trains at the Ras Laffan facility, both with a capacity of 7.8 mtpa, due to unplanned maintenance.
“Recent media reports speculating that Qatargas may be experiencing unplanned shutdowns of two LNG trains are not true,” Qatargas said in a statement on Friday.
“Qatargas operates a rolling program of planned maintenance at its facilities. These shutdowns are coordinated with all parts of our operations, shipping and customers as part of our annual planning exercises. This includes our customers around the world,” it said.
“We inform our customers about these shutdowns in advance so that they can take the necessary measures to offset any planned downtime at Qatargas,” the company said.
Qatargas did not provide any additional information.
The company operates in total fourteen LNG trains at Ras Laffan and is the largest single LNG producer in the world.
In October last year, it started construction on four new giant LNG trains in the Ras Laffan complex, as part of the $28.75 billion North Field East project.
QatarEnergy, previously known as Qatar Petroleum, took a final investment decision on the LNG expansion project in February last year.
The four trains will have a capacity of 8 mtpa, each. This first phase of the expansion project will increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 to 110 mtpa.
QatarEnergy expects to start production in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The LNG giant is also working on a second phase to further boost capacity to total 126 mtpa by 2027, as well as additional expansions.
