In midst of Gulf crisis: Qatar ups gas output by 30%

Qatar Petroleum (QP), the world’s largest oil producer, today announced that it has increased gas production by 30 per cent.

“The new increase in gas production will double the size of the North Field gas development project, which has not been used previously,” Qatar Petroleum Chief Executive Officer Saad Sharida Al-Kaabi told a news conference in Doha today.

Al-Kaabi explained that the company “intends to increase the production of the North Field by one million barrels of oil per day, bringing the total production of Qatar from all fields to about six million barrels of oil per day.”

The new project will strengthen Qatar’s position as the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, and will raise its leading position in the global gas industry and expand energy markets

Al Kaabi said.

He added that “the new project will contribute to the development of the private sector and increase employment and economic growth of the country.”

Read: Qatar responds to Gulf demands

In this context, Al-Kaabi stressed that “Qatar will not cut off gas from any country,” in light of the continuing Gulf crisis and the siege of Qatar.

He stressed that “Qatar will not be affected by the sanctions imposed by four Arab countries; and that the company continues its work and the blockade will not affect them in any way; and Doha will not be affected by the blockade even if it lasted a long time.”

“If some companies do not want to work with us, this is their choice, and we will find other companies,” he said.

The announcement comes one day after Qatar handed in its responses to a list of demands by Saudi Arabia and its allies which many have described as questioning Doha’s sovereignty.