Qatar Halts Tanker Shipments Of Gas

Following Western coalition strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

Qatar has restricted tanker transportations of liquefied gas through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea) after the Western coalition's airstrikes targeting the Houthis in Yemen. This was reported by Bloomberg on January 15.

According to the agency, at least five LNG ships heading to the strait have stopped travelling since January 12.

Three tankers heading to Europe stopped off the coast of Oman. Two other Qatari vessels without cargo returning to Qatar anchored on either side of Bab al-Mandeb, the report said.

Bloomberg notes that the halt in Qatari fuel exports could pose risks in Europe amid the cold winter. However, a shortage is unlikely in the near future as EU countries have made maximum gas stocks before the heating season and industry demand for gas remains low, experts say.