Bangladesh is at risk of power outages

Fears are mounting over a potential energy crisis in South Asia after Iran’s recent missile strike reportedly damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world’s largest LNG export hub. The full extent of the damage remains unclear, but experts warn that prolonged disruption could severely impact global gas supply.

Energy analyst Anne-Sophie Corbeau told Al Jazeera that repairs could take months or longer, citing past incidents like the 2022 Freeport LNG outage in the US and Norway’s Snøhvit plant fire in 2020. In a worst-case scenario, Ras Laffan may not fully resume operations even in 2026.

Countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India are particularly vulnerable due to heavy reliance on Qatari LNG imports. Analysts warn that supply disruptions could trigger gas shortages, reduced power generation, increased load shedding, and setbacks in industrial production, prompting urgent calls for alternative energy planning.