Qatar gives bad news about LNG supply to Bangladesh

Qatar will suspend liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to several Asian countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan, until November due to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The crisis arose after the country's state-owned supplier Qatar Energy extended its notice of 'force majeure' or unavoidable circumstances.

Reuters reported this information in a report citing Italy's leading energy company Edison and international business sources. 

According to Edison, Qatar Energy first issued a 'force majeure' notice in April when the military conflict between the US and Iran disrupted LNG supplies. The notice was subsequently extended as the situation deteriorated. The Italian company said it would not receive any LNG cargo from Qatar until December this year.

On the other hand, Asian trade sources confirmed that long-term LNG importers like Bangladesh and Pakistan have been told not to receive LNG from Qatar until November.

Qatar has been hit hard by the overall impact of the Iran conflict. According to market analysis firm ICIS, Qatar has shipped just 18 LNG cargoes so far this year, down from 509 in August last year. The figures show that the country's LNG exports have fallen by about 96 percent by the end of August.

Meanwhile, Italian company Edison said that Qatar Energy has canceled six more shipments, bringing the total number of shipments not delivered to 35. The company is mainly relying on US suppliers as an alternative to deal with the crisis.

Edison has had a 25-year contract with Qatar Energy since 2009, under which the company supplies 6.4 billion cubic meters of gas annually.