Qatar rules out Hormuz bypass, bets on LNG expansion and domestic investment

Qatar has rejected using pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz due to the need for new LNG facilities abroad and commercial/technical reasons, while pressing ahead with the North Field expansion to raise LNG capacity from 77 to 142 mtpa by 2030 (first North Field East unit due in early 2027). Ras Laffan damages could delay exports, though undamaged units could resume quickly if Hormuz reopens. Separately, Doha Investment was launched to manage the QIA’s domestic portfolio with more than $60 billion in projects over five years, including about $38.5 billion in infrastructure and $22.5 billion in real estate/hospitality, as Qatar seeks greater private-sector participation amid a 7% Q1 2026 GDP drop.