Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, warned on Wednesday that its supplies were being affected by ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.
QatarEnergy’s statement came on the same day an explosion was reported near a ship sailing off the coast of Yemen, although no damage or injuries were reported, according to the British military.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion immediately fell on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The Houthis carry out their attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, paralyzing international shipping. This is the route that Asia and the Middle East need to transport cargo and energy to Europe.
However, Qatar, which acted as a mediator in the war between Hamas and Israel, has yet to have any of its ships attacked.
In a statement, state-owned QatarEnergy said its “production continues uninterrupted” and its “commitment to ensuring reliable LNG supplies to customers remains unwavering.”
“While current events in the Red Sea region may impact the schedule of some shipments as they take alternative routes, LNG supplies from Qatar are controlled by our valued customers,” the statement said.
QatarEnergy’s cargo now travels around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, increasing travel times, the statement said.
Meanwhile, UK Maritime Trade Operations, the organization that monitors the waterways of the Middle East and is controlled by the British military, today reported an explosion near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait off Yemen.
The explosion occurred about 100 meters from the ship, but caused no damage and the crew were safe, the British said.
The Houthis have been attacking ships since November due to Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Yemeni rebels say the attacks are carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The US and UK have carried out a series of airstrikes on suspected storage and launch sites for missiles used by the Houthis in Yemen to attack ships.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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