• Explosion at Qatar's gas export terminal kills 13 and injures 66.
• The accident happened as workers resumed operations after previous disruptions.
• The Barzan gas facility plays a key role in Qatar's energy supply and exports.

An explosion occurred on Sunday night at Qatar's key natural gas export terminal in the Ras Laffan industrial area, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and 66 injuries. Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi confirmed that those killed included nationals from India and Pakistan, stressing that the explosion was not due to sabotage, but rather an industrial accident as Qatar attempted to restart operations affected by prior disruptions from conflict in the region, according to Indiatimes and LA Times.

The accident has raised concerns over potential disruptions in global energy markets, given that Qatar is one of the world's leading producers of natural gas. The blast at the Barzan gas supply facility occurred while efforts were underway to resume operations following previous shutdowns due to Iranian military actions impacting the Strait of Hormuz. QatarEnergy, the state-run company, reported that with the negotiations easing tensions, operations were being restarted when the explosion happened, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

The Barzan plant, crucial for Qatar's electricity generation and water desalination, has a production capacity of nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. Despite the accident, Minister al-Kaabi reassured that it would not impede the country’s overall energy supply or export capabilities, emphasizing Qatar's resilience in domestic energy requirements, according to Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.