A missile strike on Ras Laffan, home to the world's largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production facility in Qatar, is poised to disrupt India’s energy sector, according to the Centre. Ras Laffan Industrial City, a critical site for Qatar’s LNG and gas-to-liquids (GTL) production, came under attack by Iranian ballistic missiles on March 18 and 19. Though four of the missiles were intercepted, significant damage was reported after failing to thwart one missile.
QatarEnergy, the country’s largest energy company and the world’s second-largest LNG exporter, confirmed that one of the missile strikes caused "sizeable fires and extensive further damage" at the Pearl GTL facility and other infrastructure.
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"In addition to the previous attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, which caused extensive damage to the Pearl GTL facility, QatarEnergy confirms that in the early hours of Thursday, 19 March 2026, several LNG facilities were also targeted," QatarEnergy stated in a post on X.
India, which sources around 20 per cent of its natural gas from Qatar, faces potential supply disruptions, which could compel the government to adjust its consumption. Given India’s heavy reliance on natural gas, the attack may affect key sectors such as industries and power generation, experts warn.
India’s current natural gas consumption stands at 189 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day (MMSCMD), with 97.5 MMSCMD being supplied domestically. Major Indian companies have long-term agreement with Qatar. Petronet LNG imports roughly 7.5 million tonnes of LNG annually from Qatar, while Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) sources around 1 million tonne annually. GAIL also imports smaller volumes from the Gulf nation.
With Qatar’s LNG production in jeopardy, India is facing two major concerns: reduced supply and rising costs. In response, Indian refiners have already begun seeking alternative LNG sources, including the US and Australia.
Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, emphasised that the disruption of Qatar’s LNG supply would have significant repercussions for the country. "If the facility is affected, it will impact us. The solution lies in diversifying our sources," Sharma noted, adding that the government has been exploring alternative supply options as part of its broader energy strategy.