Region advances LNG projects with pace
30 August 2024
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction capacity is expected to more than double by 2028, potentially increasing from 473 million tonnes a year (t/y) in 2023 to 968 million t/y in 2028 through new build and expansion projects, according to a recent report by GlobalData.
North America dominates globally among the regions, in terms of new build and expansion liquefaction capacity growth, contributing around 54% of the total global capacity additions or 268 million t/y by 2028, GlobalData says in the report.
The Middle East comes in at second position, followed by the Former Soviet Union, with capacity additions of 78 million t/y and 71 million t/y, respectively.
Since the start of this decade, there has been a sharp increase in investments in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), and particularly in the Gulf region, in projects to expand LNG production. Capital expenditure close to $45bn has been made by Mena hydrocarbon producers in the past 10 years on various LNG projects, mainly for output capacity building, MEED Projects data shows. Almost three-fourths of that spending took place in the past four years, and predominantly in the GCC.
A desire to cater to the steady growth expected in global LNG demand and dominate the global supply market is fuelling the wave of investments into large-scale production capacity expansions and terminal construction by Gulf players.
Qatar guns for top spot
Qatar has been jostling with the US and Australia for the status of being the largest LNG provider to the world for many years now. The three countries have all clinched the top spot, only to be unseated by another the very next month.
However, when its mammoth North Field LNG expansion programme begins to come online later this decade, Qatar will be able to consolidate its position as the world’s largest producer and exporter of LNG in the long term.
State enterprise QatarEnergy is understood to have spent almost $30bn on the two phases of the North Field LNG expansion programme, North Field East and North Field South, which will increase its LNG production capacity from 77.5 million tonnes a year (t/y) to 126 million t/y by 2028. Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works on the two projects are making steady progress.
QatarEnergy awarded the main EPC contracts in 2021 for the North Field East project, which is projected to increase LNG output to 110 million t/y by 2025. The main $13bn EPC package, which covers the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of four LNG trains with capacities of 8 million t/y, was awarded to a consortium of Japan’s Chiyoda Corporation and France’s Technip Energies in February 2021.
QatarEnergy awarded the $10bn main EPC contract for the North Field South LNG project, covering two large LNG processing trains, to a consortium of Technip Energies and Lebanon-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) in May last year.
When fully commissioned, the first two phases of the North Field LNG expansion programme will contribute a total supply capacity of 48 million t/y to the global LNG market.
Qatar is, however, not stopping at that. QatarEnergy, in February, announced a third phase of its North Field LNG expansion programme. To be called North Field West, the project will further increase QatarEnergy’s LNG production capacity to 142 million t/y when it is commissioned by 2030.
The North Field West project will have an LNG production capacity of 16 million t/y, which is expected to be achieved through two 8 million t/y LNG processing trains, based on the two earlier phases of QatarEnergy’s LNG expansion programme. The new project derives its name from the western zone of Qatar’s North Field offshore gas reserve, from where it will draw feedstock for LNG production.
Oman moves up the ladder
Oman has been supplying LNG to customers, mainly in Asia, for many years now. Majority state-owned Oman LNG operates three gas liquefaction trains at its site in Qalhat, with a nameplate capacity of 10.4 million t/y. Due to debottlenecking, the company’s complex now has a production capacity of about 11.4 million t/y.
As recently as late July, the Omani government announced that Oman LNG will build a new train at its Qalhat LNG production complex in Sur, located in the sultanate’s South Al-Sharqiyah governorate. Oman LNG will perform the preliminary engineering study for the planned LNG train.
The LNG train will have an output capacity of 3.8 million t/y. When commissioned in 2029, it will increase Oman LNG’s total production capacity to 15.2 million t/y.
Aside from Oman LNG, France’s TotalEnergies has now committed itself to becoming a major LNG supplier in the sultanate. In partnership with state energy holding conglomerate OQ, TotalEnergies achieved final investment decision earlier this year for a major LNG bunkering and export terminal in Oman’s northern city of Sohar.
TotalEnergies leads a joint venture named Marsa LNG, which is the Sohar LNG terminal project developer. Marsa LNG was formed in December 2021 through an agreement between TotalEnergies and the sultanate’s state energy holding company OQ. The partners own 80% and 20% stakes, respectively.
Marsa LNG intends to develop an integrated facility consisting of upstream units that will draw natural gas feedstock from TotalEnergies’ hydrocarbon concessions in the sultanate, particularly from Blocks 10 and 11; an LNG bunkering terminal and storage units located in Sohar port; and a solar photovoltaic plant to power the LNG terminal.
The Marsa LNG terminal will have a single train with the capacity to process about 1 million t/y of natural gas into LNG. The bunkering terminal will mainly supply LNG as a marine fuel to vessels. Marsa LNG has picked France-based Technip Energies to perform EPC works on the estimated $1bn LNG terminal project.
Adnoc gives shape to ambitions
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has been a relatively smaller LNG producer in comparison to its GCC peers. Adnoc Group subsidiary, Adnoc Gas, operates three large gas processing trains on Das Island. At its Das Island terminal, Adnoc Gas has an LNG liquefaction and export capacity of about 6 million t/y. The first and second trains were commissioned in the 1970s and have a combined output capacity of 2.9 million t/y. The third train came into operation in the mid-1990s, with a capacity of 3.2 million t/y.
Adnoc Gas’ LNG production and export capability, however, will receive a major fillip when a new greenfield terminal it has committed to developing in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, comes online before the end of this decade. The planned LNG export terminal in Ruwais will have the capacity to produce about 9.6 million t/y of LNG from two processing trains, each with a capacity of 4.8 million t/y.
Adnoc awarded the full EPC contract and achieved the final investment decision for the LNG terminal complex in June. A consortium of France’s Technip Energies, Japan-based JGC Corporation and Abu Dhabi-owned NMDC Energy was awarded the EPC contract, worth $5.5bn.
Jordan takes a step forward
Jordan imports more than 90% of its oil, gas and refined product needs and therefore has a strong economic case for developing projects to boost its domestic hydrocarbon infrastructure, particularly for gas.
The country recently took a key step forward when Aqaba Development Corporation awarded the main EPC contract in August for a project to develop the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah LNG onshore regasification facility at the port of Aqaba.
The contract was won by a consortium of Singapore-based AG&P and South Korea’s Gas Entec, along with their local partner, Jordan’s Issa Haddadin.
In a statement, Gas Entec said that the facility will have the capacity to process 720 million cubic feet a day of natural gas.
“Jordan relies heavily on natural gas for its power and industrial needs, but faces challenges with supply reliability,” Gas Entec said.
“The new LNG terminal will provide Jordan with the flexibility to access LNG from various global suppliers, ensuring a stable and secure energy source.”
Global LNG demand set for steady growth
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Haroon is a dual-qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and barrister with over 18 years of experience in the construction industry. He leads HKA’s Construction Claims and Expert Services Line across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, overseeing a team of more than 200 consultants with responsibility for strategy and delivering the growth plan. His practice focuses on the resolution of complex and high-value construction disputes. He has been appointed as a quantum expert and has delivered expert testimony in international arbitration and litigation, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Haroon is known for his ability to analyse, quantify, and communicate the financial aspects of construction claims with clarity and independence.https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16116602/main.gif -
Diriyah tenders media district north offices
25 March 2026
Saudi gigaproject developer Diriyah Company has tendered a contract inviting firms to bid for the construction of offices in the media district in the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).
The tender was released in March, with a bid submission deadline of 27 April.
The scope covers the construction of five office plots comprising nine buildings, spanning over 50,000 square metres (sq m).
The tender follows the Diriyah Company’s award of an estimated SR2.5bn ($666m) contract to build the Pendry superblock package in the DG2 area.
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Trojena terminates Ski Village steel structure contract
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Neom has terminated its contract with Malaysian contractor Eversendai Corporation for the steel structural works on the Ski Village project in Trojena, Saudi Arabia.
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Eversendai is jointly executing the construction works on the project with Riyadh-based contractor Albawani. The contract was formally awarded in March 2024.
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This latest public announcement comes shortly after Neom cancelled contracts for the construction of the tunnel sections of The Line in northwest Saudi Arabia.
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Ashghal tenders more infrastructure contracts
25 March 2026
Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has issued two tenders covering infrastructure development in the northern section of the New Industrial Area and the Wadi Al-Banat area.
Ashghal issued the tender for consultancy services for the design of roads and infrastructure in the northern part of the New Industrial Area on 16 March. The bid submission deadline is 26 April.
The project is located in the Small and Medium Industries Area within Zone 81.
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The project also requires a masterplan study for surface-water and groundwater drainage covering an area of about 2,743 hectares.
The second tender covers the construction of roads and infrastructure in the Wadi Al-Banat area (Zone 70).
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The scope includes the development of about 25 kilometres of roads.
The latest tender follows Ashghal’s announcement earlier this month of contract awards for 12 new projects, with a total value exceeding QR4.5bn ($1.2bn).
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According to the Planning & Statistics Authority, Qatar’s construction value-add grew by 6.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2025.
GlobalData expects the industry to grow at an annual average growth rate of 4.6% in 2027-29, supported by investments in construction, energy and infrastructure projects.
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War likely to boost oil and gas activity in North Africa
25 March 2026
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The US and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran is likely to boost oil and gas project activity in North Africa, as the high-price environment encourages the region’s national oil companies to push ahead with projects that will allow them to increase exports.
In recent weeks, international oil and gas prices have stayed consistently far higher than levels seen before the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran on 28 February, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
For the past two weeks, the price of Brent crude has remained above $90 a barrel and has hit a high of more than $109.
Similarly, the Dutch TTF natural gas benchmark has stayed above €45 per megawatt hour and hit a high of more than €62, up from €31 prior to the 28 February attack.
Gulf disruption
Over the same period, the long-term outlook for oil and gas exports from the GCC and Iraq has dimmed significantly as disruption to transport through the Strait of Hormuz has continued and damage to key regional oil and gas infrastructure has increased.
Damage to infrastructure has included attacks on oil and gas fields, as well as strikes on oil refineries, storage facilities and gas processing plants.
This damage means that even if the disruption to the transport of oil and gas via the strait ends quickly, the war will have a long-term impact on oil and gas production and exports in the GCC and Iraq.
On 18 March, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, QatarEnergy’s CEO and minister of state for energy affairs, said Iranian strikes on Ras Laffan Industrial City – home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and export facility – had knocked out about 17% of its LNG export capacity.
He said the attacks were expected to cause an estimated $20bn in lost annual revenue and that repairs could take three to five years to complete.
In Bahrain, the Sitra oil refinery, which has a throughput capacity of 405,000 barrels a day (b/d), has been attacked and damaged, leading Bapco to declare force majeure.
Strikes also hit the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Habshan gas processing complex in the UAE.
North Africa
The high-price environment and the long-term impact of the ongoing conflict represent an opportunity for North Africa’s oil-producing nations, especially the region’s biggest oil and gas exporters: Algeria and Libya.
Higher prices will dramatically increase government revenues for these countries, giving them more capacity to invest in infrastructure projects, while also providing a significant financial incentive to boost production in the short term.
Both Algeria and Libya are close to European markets that have relied on oil and gas from the GCC and Iraq, and neither country relies on the Strait of Hormuz to transport exports.
The two countries also appear to be seeking to accelerate oil and gas projects at a time of heightened demand from energy-importing nations to secure reliable supplies.
Libya push
Earlier this month, MEED revealed that talks were under way at Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) to potentially launch a new licensing round to award some of the unawarded exploration blocks from the 2025 licensing round.
In the downstream sector, Libya also seems to be pushing to progress projects.
Recently, US-based KBR was awarded a contract by Zallaf Exploration, Production & Refining of Oil & Gas Company to provide project management and technical services for the South Refinery Project in Libya’s southern city of Ubari.
Algeria drive
Algeria is also advancing projects in the country’s oil and gas sector.
On 8 March, Algeria’s president signed a decree ratifying the development agreement for a $5.4bn oil and gas project in the country’s Illizi South block.
The decree approved a contract signed in Algiers on 13 October 2025 between Algeria’s national oil and gas company Sonatrach and Saudi Arabia’s Midad Energy North Africa.
The contract granted both companies the rights to explore and exploit hydrocarbons in the Illizi South area.
The total investment of about $5.4bn will be fully financed by Midad Energy, including approximately $288m allocated to the exploration phase.
Amid disruption to global LNG supplies from Qatar, Italy and Spain are currently in talks with Algeria in an effort to secure increased LNG shipments from the North African country.
Algeria’s prime minister has also received requests from Asian countries, including Vietnam, seeking to secure both gas and oil shipments.
It is unclear how much spare capacity Algeria has to supply LNG to new customers, as much of the country’s production is sold in advance under long-term supply agreements.
However, current market conditions are still expected to increase the country’s revenues significantly, as Algiers is likely to be able to command much higher prices in any new agreements.
While the ongoing war is expected to deepen the crisis for many companies operating in the GCC and Iraq oil and gas sector, the opposite could be true for companies established in Libya and Algeria.
Although in recent years these two countries have been viewed as having more challenging business environments than the UAE or Saudi Arabia, companies that have invested in building positions in North Africa’s oil- and gas-exporting states could be well placed to make windfall profits.
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