DOHA, Qatar — Qatar announced Wednesday plans to boost natural gas production for the second time since a Gulf diplomatic crisis erupted last year pitting the energy-rich emirate against a rival Saudi-led bloc. The head of state-owned Qatar Petroleum, Saad al-Kaabi, told a press conference that the country intends to raise production by a further 10 percent by 2024, to 110 million tonnes per year. “This new capacity will further strengthen our leading position as the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer and exporter,” said Kaabi. The four countries accuse Doha of seeking closer ties with Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival Iran and of supporting radical Islamist groups. Kaabi said Qatar’s decision to increase production was, however, “purely business”, adding that the emirate had no plans to disrupt its Dolphin gas pipeline which it shares with the UAE.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 26, 2018 13:18 UTC