ALBAWABA - An explosion rocked a key natural gas export terminal in Qatar on Sunday night, leaving at least 54 injured and 18 others missing, the Associated Press reported Monday.
According to AP, workers tried to resume operations at the Ras Laffan industrial area terminal after it was struck by Iran during the 100-day war, but a blaze erupted, causing a massive explosion.
Qatar shut down its production after Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as it was unable to export gas outside the Gulf country. Doha resumed work on natural gas when negotiations were making a positive impact and a peace deal was underway.
On Sunday night, the resumption of work caused a strong, cloud-shaped blast and fire at the Barzan gas supply facility, the state-run firm QatarEnergy confirmed in a statement.
According to the American website, "The Barzan plant had a capacity of almost 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day, which Qatar used primarily for local electricity generation and to power its crucial water desalination plants in the desert reaches of the Arabian Peninsula."
