Twelve Indian nationals were among the 13 people who lost their lives in an explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex, the Indian Embassy in Doha confirmed on Tuesday. The embassy also stated that all injured individuals are in stable condition and are receiving appropriate medical treatment.

Qatar’s Energy Minister and QatarEnergy CEO, Saad Al-Kaabi, said the victims included Indian and Pakistani nationals. The explosion took place at the Barzan gas supply facility within Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar’s largest LNG production and export hub. Authorities have described the blast as a “technical accident” and have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

Qatar Energy Minister Confirms Casualties

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Qatar’s Energy Minister and QatarEnergy CEO Saad Al-Kaabi confirmed the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion at the Ras Laffan LNG complex. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

“I find myself today having to do something I have always hoped will never happen, and that is to announce, the tragic loss of 13 lives of our people who hold Indian and Pakistani nationalities. 66 people have been reported injured and are receiving medical treatment, none of whom are in life-threatening condition,” al-Kaabi said.

Blast Felt Across Doha

The impact of the explosion was reportedly felt across central Doha, more than 70 kilometres away from Ras Laffan. Residents reported hearing a loud blast, while windows shook in several areas, causing panic among local communities.

No Threat to LNG Exports

Al-Kaabi said the incident posed no environmental danger and assured that Qatar’s LNG export operations were not affected. “This was an accident and not a sabotage or hostile in nature…Plant production was intentionally completely stopped since December 2025 due to urgent maintenance requirements, it was first restarted again only two days ago,” he said.

Indian Embassy Expresses Condolences

The Indian Embassy in Doha extended its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and said it was working closely with Qatari authorities.

In a post on X, the embassy said, “We convey our deepest condolences to the families of those who have unfortunately passed away in the sad incident at Ras Laffan Industrial City last night.”

The embassy added that it is coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance to affected Indian nationals and their families, including the early repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased.

Facility Was Recovering From Earlier War Damage

The explosion occurred months after Iranian missile strikes damaged key gas-processing units at Ras Laffan during the Iran conflict. The attacks had disrupted production and affected Qatar’s energy infrastructure.

Qatar, which hosts a major US military base, faced several missile and drone attacks during the conflict. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the war also disrupted nearly 20% of global LNG supplies before exports gradually resumed.

Challenges in Restarting LNG Operations

Energy experts say restarting LNG facilities after long shutdowns and wartime damage is a highly complex process. LNG plants require gradual cooling procedures and cannot be restarted all at once. Instead, production units must be brought back online in carefully planned stages to avoid damage.

Barzan Facility Plays Key Role

The Barzan gas facility supplies natural gas to industries and power stations across Qatar. It also produces liquefied petroleum gas and other products for export. The facility is part of Ras Laffan Industrial City, QatarEnergy’s main LNG production and export hub, which has an annual production capacity of 77 million metric tons.

Earlier Missile Strikes Hit Production Capacity

In March, Iranian missile attacks damaged two major gas-processing units at Ras Laffan, reducing around 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity. Qatar Energy had earlier stated that repairs to the affected infrastructure could take between three and five years. The conflict also led to the evacuation of nearly 10,000 workers from offshore and onshore energy facilities, although no injuries were reported during the missile attacks.