Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, called for coordinated protection of energy facilities and maritime transport routes during conflicts, warning that disruptions can affect global trade and energy security.

Addressing the 28th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow, al-Kaabi pointed to the conflict in the Gulf region and repeated attacks on energy infrastructure and assets. He said the situation had severely reduced shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, limiting global access to energy and other essential products.

“It is critical that we work together to protect energy infrastructure during times of conflict, including energy routes and maritime shipping lanes, whose disruption has far-reaching implications for global trade and energy security,” al-Kaabi said.

He said Qatar had itself been targeted in several attacks on its energy production facilities. According to al-Kaabi, production was halted as a result, while Qatari LNG vessels faced major restrictions in moving through regional shipping routes.

“The State of Qatar itself was the target of several attacks on our energy production facilities. As a result, our production was halted, and our LNG vessels faced severe restrictions on their movement through regional shipping routes,” he said.

Al-Kaabi said Qatar remained committed to its principles and to serving as a force for peace. He also reaffirmed the country’s intention to continue playing an active and constructive role in supplying reliable energy to international markets, particularly liquefied natural gas.

“We, in the State of Qatar, strive to be a force for peace. We also remain firmly committed to playing an active and constructive role in providing the world with reliable energy supplies, particularly LNG,” he said.

Turning to future gas supplies, al-Kaabi said rising global demand for natural gas would require substantial, sustained investment throughout the gas value chain. Such investment, he said, depends on stronger market certainty, equitable access to financing and long-term collaboration between producers and consumers so that additional supply can reach markets on time.

In his closing remarks, al-Kaabi described natural gas as a central part of a diversified global energy mix and an important element of what he called a fair, realistic and balanced energy transition.

“We have an important responsibility: to reaffirm the role of natural gas as a cornerstone of a diversified global energy mix and as a key enabler of a fair, realistic, and balanced energy transition. Natural gas is here to stay, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that its role remains firmly anchored in the global energy dialogue,” he said.

The ministerial meeting was held ahead of the 8th Summit of the Heads of States of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.