Orlen Cancels Qatari Gas Contract After Seven-Month Hiatus

Liquefied natural gas has arrived in Poland from Qatar for the first time in seven months aboard a vessel that sailed through the Red Sea, Money.pl reported on Saturday.

The delivery marks the fifth Qatari shipment to Poland this year, according to wnp.pl. The methane tanker Al Kharsaah delivered approximately 120 million cubic meters of gas after regasification, following a route that required passing regional security threats.

The cargo arrived as Orlen scales back its long-term intake from the Gulf state. On November 10, the company invoked force majeure to terminate one of its two supply contracts with QatarEnergy.

The voyage highlights ongoing logistical challenges in the Middle East following regional conflicts that disrupted maritime traffic near the Strait of Hormuz. Wnp.pl said that the 315-meter vessel was loaded at Ras Laffan on August 5 before completing its delayed journey to the Świnoujście terminal.

Maritime security risks have forced operators to alter traditional trading routes. Large gas carriers operating in the region face heightened exposure to geopolitical tensions.

“The risk of losing quarter-billion-dollar units and human lives caused the vessels to be diverted to a longer route,” wnp.pl reported, pointing to the vulnerability of large methane carriers.

Orlen announced the cancellation of the Qatari contract late in the evening on Tuesday, November 10, coinciding with national holiday preparations. Wyborcza.biz reported that the decision to exit the less favorable of two agreements received prior government backing, though officials have remained largely silent on their direct involvement.

Industry observers note that the terminated agreement represented a smaller volume compared to growing imports originating from the United States. Polish terminal operations continue to rely primarily on North American suppliers as the Qatari import schedule remains sparse.

“Nothing still indicates that the contract with Qatar will start up again, and one cargo changes nothing,” wnp.pl stated.