QatarEnergy’s production suspension raises uncertainty over gas supply and aluminium operations at Qatalum
QatarEnergy, a state-owned Doha-based energy company controlling all of Qatar’s oil and gas operations, suspended its production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related products on March 2, 2026, at around 14:30 CET. The following day, around 12:00 CET, the company announced that it would also halt the production of several downstream products in Qatar. These products include urea, polymers, methanol, aluminium, and other industrial materials.
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As a result of reduced gas availability, Qatalum, one of the major aluminium smelters of Qatar, has initiated a controlled shutdown of its aluminium production. This shutdown began on March 3 and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The purpose of this is to minimise health, environmental and safety risks, while preparing the plant for potential future restart. If the facility is fully closed, the restart could take between six and twelve months. At present, the precise consequences for aluminium production at Qatalum remain uncertain, and Norsk Hydro is working to clarify the situation.
Norsk Hydro is a leading Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company that has informed its customers that it is working to mitigate the consequences of this event and is evaluating alternative options to meet its commitments. The company has also issued a Force Majeure notice, a written notification stating these uncontrollable events to Qatalum’s customers.
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Qatalum is a joint venture equally owned by Norsk Hydro and Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Company (QAMCO). The facility has an annual production capacity of 648,000 tonnes of primary aluminium and 687 thousand tonnes in its casthouse operations (specialised department within a refinery where molten aluminium is purified, alloyed and cast into solid shapes). Qatalum is a fully integrated plant that includes a smelter, a casthouse, a carbon plant, and a dedicated gas-fired power station.
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Aluminium smelting requires a continuous and stable energy supply, which is why any disruption in natural gas availability could affect the plant’s production processes. In 2025, Qatalum recorded an adjusted net income of NOK 1.3 billion (USD 134 million) on a 50 per cent ownership basis. Therefore, a prolonged interruption could have financial implications for Norsk Hydro.
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