Qatar buys 6 giant LNG carriers from China

QatarEnergy signed an agreement with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) on Monday to acquire six additional advanced Liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, known as QC-Max vessels.

The vessels will be built at the CSSC’s subsidiary, China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.

The agreement was signed in Shanghai by Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, and the Chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group Co Ltd, Chen Jianliang, according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Al-Kaabi emphasised that the agreement highlights the strategic importance of QatarEnergy’s historic programme to expand its fleet of LNG carriers, demonstrating the commitment to maintaining leadership in the global LNG market.

“We are pleased to strengthen our excellent working relationship with China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Hudong-Zhonghua, one of the world’s leading shipbuilders. We look forward to receiving these advanced vessels, which will enhance our role in supplying the cleaner energy the world needs for a realistic and practical transition to low-carbon energy,” he said.

According to QNA, this agreement brings the total number of vessels ordered under the fleet expansion programme to 128, including 24 Q-Max carriers, with a total value of approximately $8 billion.

These vessels are the largest LNG carriers ever built, with a capacity of 271,000 cubic metres each. Delivery is expected between 2028 and 2031.

READ: Qatar, Egypt condemn Israel’s killing of Turkish-American activist near Nablus