QatarEnergy has extended its force majeure on liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries to the end of December 2026, prolonging a suspension in force since April 2026 and removing further contracted cargoes from the market as winter approaches. Italy's gas importer Edison confirmed it had received notice of the extension, which covers three further LNG cargoes due at its Adriatic LNG terminal. The move pushed European natural gas prices to their highest level since the autumn of 2022, according to OilPrice.

South Asian buyers also affected

The extension is not limited to Europe. A source at Bangladesh's state gas company Petrobangla told Reuters that the force majeure on Qatari LNG deliveries to South Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, has also been extended until the end of the year. Petrobangla chairman Abdul Mannan said the company was trying to secure additional spot cargoes to bridge the supply gap, at a significant cost. OilPrice reported that Pakistan faces paying more than $1 billion to secure LNG supply for the winter months, planning to import 10 cargoes from the spot market at around double the price of its long-term Qatari contract.

Why shipments remain disrupted

The disruption is linked to the war in the Middle East and to the Strait of Hormuz, through which Qatari LNG must travel. OilPrice reported that LNG flows through the strait have not recovered in any meaningful way, even as oil exports from the region have, and that Asian spot LNG prices have surged to four-year highs. QatarEnergy has also extended force majeure on November LNG supplies to India's Petronet LNG, according to a source familiar with the matter. The extension leaves buyers in both Europe and South Asia dependent on the more expensive spot market for the rest of the year.

Sources: OilPrice, Egypt Oil & Gas.