QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies after suspending production at key export facilities, sending fresh shockwaves through global energy markets already rattled by the escalating conflict involving Iran, the company posted on X.
In a notice to buyers, the state energy giant said the declaration follows its decision to halt LNG and associated production after Iranian strikes targeted facilities linked to Ras Laffan and Mesaieed Industrial City.
The shutdown affects LNG output as well as downstream products including urea, polymers, methanol and aluminum.
The move places roughly a fifth of global LNG supply at risk if the disruption persists.
QatarEnergy operates 14 LNG trains at Ras Laffan and is the world’s largest single LNG exporter, supplying long-term buyers across Europe and Asia, according to Reuters. The force majeure declaration allows QatarEnergy to suspend contractual delivery obligations due to events beyond its control.
The company has not indicated when production might resume.
Energy markets are already reacting to the broader geopolitical escalation.
Oil prices have climbed roughly 20% this week as traders price in risks to Middle Eastern energy infrastructure and shipping routes.
The LNG disruption could be particularly significant for Europe. Since cutting its reliance on Russian pipeline gas, the European Union has become heavily dependent on seaborne LNG imports, with Qatar among its largest suppliers.According to a Reuters analysis by Balazs Koranyi and Francesco Canepa, European policymakers are watching the energy shock closely, wary of repeating the inflation misjudgment that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
European Central Bank officials were slow to respond to that earlier surge, initially describing the spike as “transitory” before inflation surged past 10%.
The current situation could create a similar feedback loop if energy disruptions persist. Fuel costs feed quickly into transport and consumer prices, and European buyers may soon find themselves competing with Asian importers for scarce LNG cargoes if Qatari exports remain constrained.The eurozone economy remains highly exposed to energy costs, making developments in the Gulf a central concern for policymakers as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to unfold.
The Acting Director of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, has been honoured with the Outstanding Woman in Stakeholder Engagement Award at the 2026 Instinct Women Conference & Awards (IWCA), held from 26–27 February 2026 at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The recognition celebrates Mrs. Nyarko’s significant contributions to stakeholder engagement and the advancement of consumer services within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
She has led initiatives that strengthened structured consumer complaint resolution systems, expanded public sensitisation campaigns on fuel and LPG safety, enhanced transparency in regulatory communication, and promoted data-driven approaches to service delivery.
Her work has reinforced public confidence in regulatory oversight and improved collaboration between the Authority, industry operators, and consumers.
The 2026 edition of IWCA was convened under the theme, “Women Who Move Nations: Leadership, Legacy & Impact,” bringing together senior government officials, corporate executives, development partners, and women leaders from across Africa to examine the transformative role of women in governance, institutional reform, and economic development.
In his welcome address, Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave, the organisers of the conference, underscored that women across Africa are no longer seeking representation alone but are actively building institutions, shaping public policy, driving innovation, and influencing economies.
He noted that the conference platform was designed not merely to discuss barriers, but to spotlight solutions, celebrate measurable impact, and honour leadership defined by influence, courage, and legacy.
Delivering a keynote address, Sheila Addo highlighted three defining attributes of impactful leadership: the courage to make difficult decisions when the stakes are high; the commitment to strengthening institutions and reforming systems beyond one’s tenure; and the resolve to ensure that leadership translates into tangible improvements in lives and national stability.
She emphasised that leadership begins with purpose and that when talent meets opportunity, women create lasting change.
Dr. Addo further observed that evidence consistently shows that when women lead, communities thrive.
She cited studies indicating that organisations with women in leadership positions demonstrate a significantly higher likelihood of achieving above-average profitability.
While acknowledging persistent challenges such as unequal access to capital, underrepresentation in senior political roles, and systemic barriers, she stressed that the question is no longer whether African women can lead, but how societies can create systems that accelerate and sustain women’s leadership.
She called for deliberate investment in girls and inclusive leadership models that drive national advancement.
At the awards ceremony, Dr. Addo was also named Woman Leader of the Year – Energy Regulation in recognition of her outstanding leadership within Ghana’s energy regulatory space.
The National Petroleum Authority received the Women Empowerment Champion Award – Public Sector for its commitment to gender inclusion and institutional equity, while Maria Edith Oquaye was honoured as Outstanding Woman in Corporate Communications.
The recognitions underscore the growing impact of Ghanaian women in public sector leadership and their role in strengthening institutions and advancing national development.
South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, in collaboration with security operatives, has removed 42 transformers that were illegally connected to its network in Zandspruit, within the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
The operation, which took place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, involved personnel from the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Eskom’s Group Investigations and Security Unit, and Venus Security Solutions.
According to Eskom, the 42 illegal transformers removed are valued at R2.84 million.
The power utility said the transformers are often stolen from Eskom and municipal networks.
The company warned that only Eskom-authorised technicians are permitted to operate on the electricity grid, noting that illegal installations put lives at risk, cause fires and electrocution, and contribute to non-technical losses.
“This operation highlights Eskom’s commitment, alongside law enforcement partners, to protecting infrastructure, reducing electricity theft, and educating communities about the dangers of unsafe connections,” the company said.
Eskom urged community members to report electricity theft and illegal connections to the utility or the nearest police station, adding that collective action can help stop unsafe practices, protect lives, and ensure a reliable power supply.
The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) to deepen engagement and strengthen industry collaboration.
The CBOD Ghana delegation was led by CEO Dr. Patrick Ofori, accompanied by Richard Kissi (Head, Finance & Industry Operations), Angela Osei-Badu (Member Relations & HR Manager), Ebenezer Yidana (Research Officer), Evelyn Asare (Corporate and External Affairs Officer), and Oscar Cyril K. Mingah (Operations Assistant Officer).
The COMAC team was led by CEO Riverson Oppong, PhD, together with Mohammed (Mo) Issah (Director for Policy & Regulations), Samuel Wristberg (Head of Policy & Research), Adjoa Baah Akuffo, Esq. (Head of Administration and Legal Advisor), Abena Ofosua Larbi (Senior Corporate Communication Officer), Courage Agblevor (Senior Compliance Officer), and Genny Dodoo (Executive Assistant).
Both teams shared perspectives on their organizations’ governance structures, operational realities, and the key issues affecting not only their members but the downstream petroleum industry as a whole.
The dialogue was solution-driven, focusing on compliance and enforcement standards, member subscription frameworks, pricing dynamics, and the broader commercial and regulatory environment shaping the sector.
Discussions also emphasized product quality assurance, brand integrity, and operational discipline as critical drivers of market confidence.
In this regard, both organisations explored the need to institutionalise a joint Dispute Resolution Committee, alongside strengthening credit and financial risk management mechanisms to enhance accountability and industry stability.
The meeting further outlined clear pathways for structured collaboration — particularly where unified advocacy, strategic policy engagement, and coordinated industry action can drive sustainable growth and stability within the sector.
The Electricity Company of Ghana has confirmed that it has begun investigations into reports of rapid credit depletion on prepaid meters, following a directive from the sector minister.
According to the company, although its meters undergo rigorous testing and calibration to ensure accuracy before deployment, it has welcomed the minister’s order to further probe the matter.
In a statement signed by William Boateng, Director of Communication, the power distributor said it has formally requested the Ghana Standards Authority to independently and randomly select and test its meters in both laboratory and field environments.
ECG noted that the Authority’s findings will form part of its final report to the Honourable Minister.
The company said the move to involve GSA is driven by its commitment to transparency and accountability.
“ECG remains committed to responsive, transparent, and accountable service delivery, and we appreciate our valued customers and stakeholders for their continued support and cooperation,” the statement added.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed concern that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could undermine the country’s efforts to make fuel more affordable for citizens.
According to the President, the government had managed the petroleum sector well prior to the U.S. and Israeli coordinated attack on Iran. He said he hopes the conflict will end soon, as it poses a risk of pushing fuel prices higher.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the Iran war, projected to last four to five weeks, could go “far longer.”
The conflict is already raising concerns among oil-importing nations, with Brent crude rising to $84 per barrel on Monday afternoon.
“We all hope this war will come to an end quickly so that it doesn’t shoot up the price of fuel and distort our inflation issues and the cost of doing business,” President Hichilema said on Monday while addressing more than 1,800 councillors from across Zambia.
“The economy is stabilising — macro-stability, fiscal consolidation, single-digit inflation down from 23 percent,” President Hichilema noted.
“We are only concerned about the war in Iran now, which could drive fuel prices up. You have seen what we have been doing to the pump price.”
He said the government has been working to reduce pump prices.
“The price of fuel is based on only three parameters, councillors. Part of this interaction is for you to gather data so you can take it back to your wards and explain to the people.
“The first parameter is the exchange rate, which we are managing well. The second is the cost of transporting fuel — that’s why we are pushing for more pipeline capacity, as it is cheaper than road transport.
“The third is the international price of fuel… the war in Iran is causing increases in fuel prices. That is beyond us. We don’t support war, we don’t support conflict, but that is beyond us.”
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor (MP), on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders across the country’s petroleum upstream and downstream sectors to assess the potential impact of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East on the nation’s fuel security.
The engagement brought together representatives from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), BOSTEnergies, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs), and other industry players.
In a statement issued by Richmond Rockson Esq., Head of Communication, the ministry said discussions focused on heightened global oil market volatility, potential supply chain disruptions, freight cost fluctuations, and possible implications for domestic pricing and consumer welfare.
Hon. Dr. Jinapor underscored the need to be proactive in safeguarding Ghana’s energy supply reliability. He emphasized that contingency measures are being reviewed and strengthened to minimise any potential adverse effects on the country arising from the current geopolitical tensions.
The Minister directed the National Petroleum Authority, as the downstream sector regulator, to intensify market surveillance and maintain close coordination with industry stakeholders to ensure that any anticipated supply disruptions are mitigated swiftly and effectively.
He further instructed all sector agencies to maintain adequate strategic fuel stocks, enhance monitoring of international developments, and ensure stable nationwide distribution.
The ministry assured the public that government remains fully committed to protecting Ghana’s energy supply security.
“All necessary measures are being explored to ensure sustained fuel availability and to mitigate undue hardship on consumers. The Ministry will continue to monitor developments closely and provide timely updates as the situation evolves,” the statement said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Brent crude rose to $84 per barrel, sparking concerns among oil-importing countries, including Ghana.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the ongoing war against Iran, an OPEC member, which is projected to last 4 to 5 weeks, could go “far longer.”
Tanzanian President Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the Oil Receiving and 15 Storage Tanks Construction Project at the Port of Dar es Salaam, Kigamboni.
The project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand and modernise the port, strengthening its position as a key trade gateway for Tanzania and the wider Indian Ocean region.
Minister for Transport Prof. Makame Mbarawa said that in addition to constructing the oil storage tanks, the government is also undertaking the construction of Berth Number One, which will be 500 metres long and capable of receiving two vessels simultaneously, each with a carrying capacity of approximately 50,000 tonnes.
He added that these ongoing improvements are aimed at increasing the port’s capacity to handle larger cargo volumes, reducing vessel congestion, and enhancing the competitiveness of the Dar es Salaam Port within the Indian Ocean region.
According to Prof. Mbarawa, between July and December last year, the Dar es Salaam Port handled a total of 19.99 million tonnes of cargo within six months.
He said the government aims to increase cargo handling capacity to 40 million tonnes by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year—an achievement expected to improve port efficiency and boost its contribution to national economic growth.
The Government of Kenya has assured the public that the country has sufficient petroleum product stocks to meet both domestic and regional demand, despite the ongoing U.S.–Israeli coordinated attacks on Iran, which have disrupted global oil and gas supplies and pushed crude oil prices upward.
According to Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, the country currently holds adequate reserves and has scheduled imports expected to arrive through the end of April 2026.
“As of today, the country has sufficient stocks to cover both domestic consumption and the region. We have scheduled imports for delivery up to the end of April 2026 and, therefore, as it stands, we are assured of security of supply,” he said, as quoted by Capital FM Kenya.
Following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tensions in the Middle East have escalated, resulting in the shutdown of several oil and gas facilities and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that carries about 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Brent crude prices had risen to $84 per barrel, while U.S.-traded WTI crude stood at $76 per barrel.
“We are closely monitoring the fluid situation as it evolves whilst engaging with our G-to-G suppliers for contingency planning,” Wandayi added.
“We wish to assure the public and all stakeholders that the Ministry remains alert and shall continue taking necessary actions to ensure uninterrupted supply.”
Rubis filling station tank explosion has claimed the life of a 41-year-old boilermaker from Kitwe, the Daily Mail has reported.
The victim, James Banda, died on Sunday morning at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH), where he had been receiving treatment following the incident.
According to the report, Mr. Banda was engaged on Friday around 15:00 hours to work on an underground fuel tank at the station located opposite Mukuba Pension House.
The report stated that the victim was grinding the underground petrol tank when fire came into contact with the fuel, triggering an explosion.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi said the blast left Mr. Banda with severe burns and fractured hands. He added that the explosion also damaged the grinder he was using, as well as the iron sheets of the shelter at the filling station.
Mr. Yuyi said the victim was rushed to KTH, where he remained under treatment until he passed away.
Renovation works at the filling station have since been halted, with residents expressing concern over the safety of workers at the facility.
Ghana’s indigenous oil marketing company, GOIL PLC, has hosted a three-member delegation from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) at the company’s head office in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The JETRO team was led by its Director-General, Mr. Tsubasa Nakagawa.
Discussions focused on potential collaboration in the development of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage infrastructure and the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging points across GOIL’s extensive nationwide service station network.
Welcoming the delegation, the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GOIL PLC, Mr. Edward Abambire Bawa, emphasized the company’s commitment to infrastructure development that delivers sustainability, quality, and value for money to consumers. He noted that strong international partnerships remain critical to advancing Ghana’s evolving energy landscape and supporting the country’s transition to cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.
JETRO is a Japanese government-related organization that promotes trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. It supports Japanese companies seeking international partnerships and facilitates foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and industrial cooperation across sectors including energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure development.
The engagement signals growing interest in Ghana’s energy infrastructure modernization and highlights opportunities for collaboration between Japanese firms and GOIL in areas that support energy security and sustainable mobility.
Ghana’s downstream petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), is urging the public to remain calm over the potential impact of rising Middle East tensions on domestic fuel supply, assuring that the country currently has adequate petroleum stocks to last more than five weeks.
According to the regulator, Ghana has petrol reserves sufficient for five weeks and diesel stocks that can last six weeks.
“As of last Friday, we have diesel stocks to last us over five weeks — roughly 5.3 weeks. And for petrol, we have almost 6.8 weeks,” Abass Ibrahim Tasunti, Director of Economic Regulation and Planning at the NPA, told Accra-based Joy News.
The US–Israeli coordinated attack on Iran, a member of the oil cartel OPEC, has disrupted oil shipments, triggering a surge in global oil prices over the weekend.
Many oil-importing countries fear the situation could lead to fuel shortages and sharp hikes in pump prices, prompting them to put in place measures to mitigate the potential fallout.
Mr. Tasunti stressed that Ghana’s current fuel stock levels are not a response to the unfolding crisis but part of the NPA’s routine mandate to ensure uninterrupted supply.
“Even without this war, we always ensure that we have a plan to make petroleum products available for consumers in the country. So this is not something being done because of the war; it is something we do regularly. It is one of NPA’s major mandates,” he explained.
He added that the Authority oversees the daily discharge of imported petroleum products, while domestic production also contributes to supply.
He noted that the Sentuo Oil Refinery has been consistently producing since June 2025, supplying petroleum products to the local market. Additionally, the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant continues to produce and distribute liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Mr. Tasunti further revealed that several vessels are currently waiting to discharge at the Tema Anchorage, including two cargoes of diesel and two cargoes of petrol, with additional imports already scheduled.
While assuring the public of supply stability, the NPA acknowledged that Ghana—being a net importer of petroleum products—will inevitably feel the effects of global oil market disruptions.
Qatar has halted its production of liquefied natural gas on Monday, as Iran continued to strike Gulf countries in retaliation for Israeli and U.S strikes against it, prompting precautionary shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across the Middle East.
Qatari LNG production is equivalent to about 20% of global supply and plays a major role in balancing both Asian and European markets’ demand for the fuel.
As a wave of attacks in the Middle East stretched into a third day, they also resulted in the suspension of operations at Saudi Arabia’s biggest domestic oil refinery after a drone strike, most oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan and several Israeli gas fields, throttling exports to Egypt.
State-owned QatarEnergy, 82% of whose clients are Asian, was set to declare force majeure on its LNG shipments after Iranian drone attacks on facilities in the sprawling Ras Laffan complex. The complex hosts Qatar’s gas trains — massive processing units that supercool natural gas into liquid form for export by ship.
Drones also hit the Mesaieed industrial zone in Qatar’s south that lies far from the gas fields but is home to petrochemical and manufacturing facilities.
Natural gas prices soared with the benchmark European price, the Dutch front-month contract at the TTF hub, up 46% as of 1426 GMT.
Oil prices jumped as much as 13% intraday to above $82 a barrel, the highest since January 2025, as the conflict ground shipping to a near halt in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil supply flows.
State oil giant Saudi Aramco’s 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) Ras Tanura refinery, which was shut as a precautionary measure according to an industry source, is part of an energy complex on the kingdom’s Gulf coast which also serves as a critical export terminal for Saudi crude oil.
In Iraqi Kurdistan, which exported 200,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) via pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port in February, companies including DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas, and HKN Energy have stopped output at their fields as a precaution, with no damage reported.
Offshore Israel, the Israeli government instructed Chevron to temporarily shut down the giant Leviathan gas field where it is in the process of expanding capacity to around 21 billion cubic metres a year as part of a $35 billion export deal to Egypt. A spokesperson for Chevron, which also operates the Tamar gas field offshore Israel, said its facilities were safe.
Energean shut down its production vessel serving smaller Israeli gas fields.
In Iran, explosions were heard on Saturday in Kharg Island, which processes 90% of Iran’s crude exports. It was unclear how the facilities were impacted.
Iran, the third largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumps about 4.5% of global oil supplies. Iran’s output is about 3.3 million barrels per day of crude, plus 1.3 million bpd of condensate and other liquids.
Global oil prices rose early Monday morning after at least three oil vessels were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, as Iran continues to launch strikes across the Middle East in response to ongoing attacks by the US and Israel, the BBC reported.
Two vessels were struck, and an “unknown projectile” reportedly “exploded in very close proximity” to a third oil tanker, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO).
Iran, a member of the OPEC oil cartel, closed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. The strait is a critical waterway through which around 20% of the world’s oil and gas is shipped.
International shipping has almost come to a standstill at the strait’s entrance, with analysts warning that a prolonged conflict could push energy prices even higher.
In early trading in Asia on Monday, global oil prices jumped by more than 10% before those gains eased later in the morning.
At 02:00 GMT, Brent crude was more than 4% higher at $76.16 (£56.53) a barrel, while US-traded oil was also up by around 4% at $69.67.
“The market isn’t panicking,” Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Research, told the BBC.
“There is more clarity that, so far, oil transport and production infrastructure haven’t been primary targets by any side,” he added.
“The market will be watching for signs that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz returns, which would see oil prices subside again.”
However, some analysts have warned that prices could exceed $100 per barrel in the event of a prolonged conflict.
On Sunday, the OPEC+ group of oil-producing nations — which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia — agreed to increase output by 206,000 barrels per day to help cushion any price rises.
File photo of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has now ground to a halt
However, some experts doubt this would have a significant impact.
Edmund King, president of the AA, warned that the disruption could drive up petrol prices worldwide.
“The turmoil and bombing across the Middle East will surely disrupt global oil distribution, which will inevitably lead to price hikes,” he said.
“The magnitude and duration of pump price increases depend on how long the conflict continues.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said three tankers from the UK and US had been “struck by missiles and are burning.”
The UKMTO reported “multiple security incidents” across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman and has advised ships to “transit with caution.”
At least 150 tankers have dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz, although a handful of Iranian and Chinese vessels have passed through, according to ship-tracking platform Kpler.
“Because of Iran’s threats, the strait is effectively closed,” Homayoun Falakshahi of Kpler told the BBC.
“Vessels have taken precautionary measures not to enter, as the risks are too high and insurance costs have skyrocketed.”
He added that the US would likely try to protect shipping routes, which, if effective, could prevent a major oil price spike. However, if the strait remains closed for an extended period, prices could go “much, much higher.”
