Decouple The Week LNG Became a Target
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Mar 13, 2026 Stephen Stapczynski, Bloomberg senior LNG correspondent who has tracked shadow fleets and geopolitics, explains the Ras Laffan drone strike and its shock to global gas markets. He narrates why Qatar dominates the field, why Iran lagged, how the Arctic Medigas attack changes shipping risk, and what route, insurance, and supply battles mean for Asia, Europe, and buyers like China.
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Qatar Plant Removed A Fifth Of Global LNG
- Qatar's Ras Laffan plant produces 77 million tons per year, roughly 20% of global LNG supply.
- A drone strike forced Qatar to evacuate staff and declare force majeure, removing a huge chunk of global capacity immediately.
LNG Fleet Is Small Expensive And Trackable
- LNG shipping is highly specialized with only ~700 vessels, making them easier to track than oil tankers.
- LNG carriers cost about $250 million each and recent shadow fleets were exposed via satellite imagery and open tracking.
An LNG Ship Was Successfully Attacked
- The Arctic Methane/Arctic Medigas attack was the first successful strike on an LNG carrier, proving LNG shipping is now a military target.
- An LNG ship burns intensely when its cargo vaporizes; it doesn't 'explode' like a compressed gas vessel.