Qatargas has announced it has changed its name to QatarEnergy LNG, emphasising the increasingly important role of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Qatar’s energy industry. The name change reflects how over the almost forty years since Qatargas was founded, the company’s focus has shifted gradually towards the use of LNG. 

Unlike natural gas, the colourless, odourless fuel that most of us think of when we hear about gas power, LNG takes a liquid form, making it easier to transport to where it is needed. LNG is created by cooling natural gas to -160°C, creating a clear, colourless and non-toxic liquid, 600-times smaller than natural gas. According to the UK’s National Grid, LNG “does not emit soot, dust or particulates and produces insignificant amounts of sulphur dioxide, mercury and other compounds considered harmful to the earth's atmosphere”. 

The announcement and reveal of the company’s new logo was made in a press release on its website on September 14. The company states that it will “continue to deliver on its commitment to safety, environmental protection, flawless project delivery and the reliability and efficiency of its production facilities”. 

Commenting on the announcement, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy’s President and CEO, said: “Over the course of 39 years, Qatargas has been a pioneer of the LNG industry helping place the State of Qatar firmly on the global LNG map and enhancing its leading position as a safe, reliable and trustworthy LNG supplier. 

“Today, ‘QatarEnergy LNG’ carries this legacy forward well into the 21st century helping meet the world’s growing energy demand, placing LNG at the centre of a realistic energy transition, and playing a critical role in safeguarding energy security and eliminating energy poverty.” 

The company, formerly known as Qatargas, was founded almost four decades ago in 1984. Today, QatarEnergy LNG operates 14 LNG production trains, with the nation as a whole contributing a whopping 76.5% of the Middle East’s total liquefaction capacity. In July, the company made a major subsea pipeline deal with McDermott, worth between $750m (QR2.73bn) and $1.5bn. 

Al-Kaabi added: “We are very proud of Qatargas, its people, and its legacy and achievements over the past 39 years, and we look forward to a new era under the new name and brand that will herald new achievements and greater gains for the LNG industry and for our stakeholders across the globe.”