In brief
On 29 October 2026, QatarEnergy announced a 20‑year agreement with Woodside Energy to buy up to 3 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas from the Louisiana LNG project. Deliveries will start in 2030 and will expand as additional liquefaction trains come online. The deal reinforces QatarEnergy’s strategy to broaden its global LNG supply and trading portfolio, while positioning the company as the largest U.S. LNG importer.
In a landmark deal announced on 29 October 2026, Qatar’s state‑owned energy company QatarEnergy entered a 20‑year agreement with Australian energy giant Woodside Energy to purchase up to 3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually from the Louisiana LNG project on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Under the sales and purchase arrangement, delivery terms will be free‑on‑board and are slated to commence in 2030, when Woodside’s second liquefaction train begins operation. Once the third train is operational, supply volumes will rise to the contract’s ceiling of 3 million tonnes per year, the company said in a statement.
QatarEnergy’s move makes it the largest buyer of U.S. LNG in the world. The station‑statement said the additional volumes “strengthened our ability to meet growing global demand” and cemented the group’s expanding position in the global LNG market.
Saad Sherida Al‑Kaabi (Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy) said the partnership “supports the company’s long‑term growth and diversification strategy.” He added that the joint Qatari‑U.S. Golden Pass LNG project, together with expanding U.S. LNG purchases, would help diversify the company’s LNG portfolio internationally.
Woodside Energy, the developer of the Louisiana LNG complex, confirmed that the project is currently under construction. The company stated that supply would begin with the second liquefaction train and scale up with the third, aligning with the 20‑year run‑through contract with QatarEnergy.
The Louisiana LNG facility is designed to become a significant new source of LNG on the U.S. Gulf Coast, supplying global markets once the project reaches full production. QatarEnergy’s acquisition of a long‑term supply from the plant underlines the growing interconnectedness of global LNG supply chains, especially between Middle‑East energy majors and U.S. exporters.
By linking a large Middle‑East buyer with U.S. production, the agreement also shows the increasing importance of LNG partnerships that cross continents to balance supply and demand. In winning the contract, QatarEnergy has secured a stable, predictable source of LNG for the next two decades, bolstering its trading and delivery schedule in a market that is expanding rapidly worldwide.
While the deal focuses on supply logistics, it also reflects a broader industry trend of energy firms seeking diversified gas supplies amid shifting geopolitics and market dynamics. The partnership demonstrates how companies are securing long‑term agreements to hedge against price and supply volatility, and to meet the requirements of both traditional and emerging global markets.
QatarEnergy’s commitment to expanding its LNG portfolio signals a sustained interest in gas as a part of the world’s energy mix, balancing the company's existing LNG ventures and trade interests. By aligning with one of the United States’ youngest and most ambitious projects, the company underscores its long‑term vision of a diversified portfolio that spans various LNG production sites worldwide.
Looking ahead, the deal positions QatarEnergy to absorb growing global demand for LNG as the United States increases its exports, while also providing a platform for the company to extend its market reach in key regions. The contract’s 20‑year duration offers both parties a strategic partnership that can adapt to changing market dynamics and support future expansion initiatives.
In summary, QatarEnergy’s 20‑year agreement with Woodside for up to 3 million tonnes of U.S. LNG a year marks the energy group’s strongest U.S. LNG purchase to date. The collaboration signals a strategic push toward a larger, diversified LNG portfolio and a partnership that’s poised to support the long‑term growth of both companies in an increasingly interconnected energy landscape.
