By Susanna Twidale LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - Iran's attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex, the world's largest, has focused attention on the risks to gas supply, including buyers in Europe.
Where does the EU get its gas and how is it impacted by the Iran conflict?
By Susanna Twidale
EU Gas Supply and the Impact of the Iran Conflict
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - Iran's attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex, the world's largest, has focused attention on the risks to gas supply, including buyers in Europe.
Qatar produces of 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has said the attack will impact exports for up to five years.
What Has Happened to Gas Supply?
Qatar, which supplies the EU with some 9% of its LNG according to EU data, halted production after Iranian threats to shipping effectively halted tanker traffic leaving the Gulf.
QatarEnergy then reported extensive damage to several of its LNG facilities after a missile attack from Iran.
Asian buyers, including China, Japan, and India, are the main victims as they buy some 80% of QatarEnergy's LNG.
But Europe will experience a knock-on effect as Asian buyers increasingly compete for spot cargoes.
Can Europe Get More from Elsewhere?
Norway's Role in EU Gas Supply
Norway is Europe’s largest overall gas supplier, providing more than a third of the bloc’s gas versus some 4% from Qatar in 2025.
Its state-owned gas producer, Equinor, told Reuters earlier in March that the company does not have spare capacity to increase its output or exports.
The United States as a Gas Supplier
The United States became the EU’s main source of LNG in 2025, supplying 25% of its gas imports.
Yet while many gas producers have large output expansion plans, U.S. facilities are currently operating at close to full capacity and are unlikely to be able to ramp up supply significantly in the short term.
U.S. natural gas prices have also risen, drawing calls from some energy-intensive industries for a curb on U.S. gas exports to help alleviate price spikes.
Can Russian Supply Come Back?
Changes in Russian Gas Imports
Europe's gas imports have undergone significant transformation since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the European Union's subsequent drive to wean the bloc off Russian energy.
Russia had previously supplied more than 40% of the EU's gas. That fell to around 13% in 2025 and current plans call for a full ban on Russian gas imports by late 2027.
Political Debate on Russian Energy
Some countries, such as Hungary, have urged the EU to lift measures on Russian energy imports, but European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said returning to Russian energy would be "a strategic blunder" and make Europe more vulnerable.
What Is Happening to Gas Prices?
European wholesale gas prices have doubled since the war in Iran began on Feb 28.
The benchmark front-month Dutch contract hit an intra-day high of 74 euros/megawatt hour on March 19, its highest level since January 2023, yet well below highs seen during the 2022 energy crisis above 300 euros/MWh.
(Reporting by Susanna Twidale; editing by Nina Chestney and Jason Neely)
