The Polish energy company ended one of its two liquefied natural gas supply agreements with QatarEnergy, citing the exporter’s inability to deliver shipments since early 2026. The cancelled oil-linked contract was signed in 2009, would have remained in force until 2034, and was valued at approximately €570 million in 2026 for 1 million tonnes of gas annually. The move marks the first known loss of a long-term LNG contract for the Qatari producer, though Orlen is maintaining a second, gas-price-linked agreement with the supplier.
QatarEnergy declared force majeure in March 2026 after Iranian strikes damaged the Ras Laffan facilities and disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. While LNG loadings at the terminal have improved, with a 10 day moving average of 13 to 15 departures in November, volumes remain limited. October shipments through the strait totaled 31 tankers, the highest since the conflict began, yet Ras Laffan’s monthly export of 2.7M tons is less than half the 6.2M tons it moved in February.
