QatarEnergy confirmed the blast took place during the start-up of operations at the site. The Ministry of the Interior deployed the Lekhwiya search and rescue group alongside Civil Defence teams to locate the unaccounted personnel. While initial reports cited a technical failure, the facility serves as a linchpin in Qatar’s efforts to stabilize its energy output after months of regional instability.

The accident arrives at a critical juncture for the world’s second-largest LNG exporter. Qatar recently began rerouting tankers toward the Middle East in anticipation of the Strait of Hormuz reopening. Following missile strikes in March that forced a declaration of force majeure, the state firm had signaled a path toward restoring 50% of production capacity within a month. This latest fire compounds the logistical pressure on a supply chain already struggling to recover from the broader conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.