QatarEnergy announced the production shutdown and declared force majeure on LNG shipments, citing events beyond its control

Force majeure, a French term meaning "superior force," refers to a contractual clause that releases parties from liability or obligation when extraordinary events beyond their control prevent them from fulfilling their contractual duties.
Shell has declared force majeure on LNG cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells to its global clients, following a production halt at Qatar’s 77 million tons per annum (mtpa) LNG facility due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

QatarEnergy announced the production shutdown and declared force majeure on LNG shipments, citing events beyond its control, such as drone strikes on key facilities.
Shell, the world’s largest LNG trader, confirmed the move via sources, stating that deliveries for March will proceed as planned, but the impact will be felt starting in April.
TotalEnergies, while receiving force majeure notices from QatarEnergy, has not declared force majeure itself, according to a source familiar with the matter. However, it is affected as a major buyer and reseller of Qatari LNG.
Other Asian companies and traders, including OQ, have also declared force majeure due to the supply disruption.
Both Shell and TotalEnergies have long-term partnerships with QatarEnergy and are key partners in the North Field expansion project, aimed at increasing capacity by 2027.
Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi stated that restoring normal deliveries could take "weeks to months", even if the conflict ends immediately.

In the context of LNG contracts:
Events like war, drone strikes, or attacks on infrastructure (e.g., the Iranian drone strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility) qualify as force majeure if they make production or shipping impossible.
When invoked, it allows companies like Shell or QatarEnergy to suspend deliveries without being penalized for breach of contract.
The clause is not automatic—companies must prove the event was unforeseeable, beyond their control, and unavoidable, and that no alternative performance was possible.
Obligations are typically suspended, not terminated, with the expectation that normal operations resume once the event ends.