QatarEnergy inks 27-year LNG deal with TotalEnergies, to supply 3.5m tons per year

LNG will be transported ex-ship to the Fos Cavaou receiving terminal in southern France, with deliveries expected to start in 2026 for 27 years.  Shutterstock
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Updated 11 October 2023
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QatarEnergy inks 27-year LNG deal with TotalEnergies, to supply 3.5m tons per year

RIYADH: In a significant development in the energy sector, QatarEnergy and France’s TotalEnergies signed two long-term sales and purchase agreements on Wednesday to supply up to 3.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas per annum from Qatar to France.

According to a press statement, LNG will be transported ex-ship to the Fos Cavaou receiving terminal in southern France, with deliveries expected to start in 2026 for 27 years. 

LNG volumes will be sourced from the two joint ventures between QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies that hold interests in Qatar’s North Field East and North Field South projects. 

“These two new agreements we have signed with our partner TotalEnergies, demonstrate our continued commitment to the European markets in general, and the French market in particular, thus contributing to France’s energy security,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s minister of state for energy affairs in a statement. 

Al-Kaabi, who is also the president and CEO of QatarEnergy, added: “The state of Qatar has been supplying the French market with LNG since 2009, and the new agreements reflect the joint effort of two trusted partners, QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies, to provide reliable and credible LNG supply solutions to customers across the globe.” 

The minister further noted that Qatar is committed to ensuring continued energy supplies to Europe and the rest of the world, and the country is making substantial investments in the entire gas value chain.

“Our efforts span from bolstering production capacity in Qatar to the development of the Golden Pass LNG export project in the US, in addition to our commitments in various LNG receiving terminals in Europe, including the Montoir-de-Bretagne LNG Terminal in France,” he explained. 

In July, QatarEnergy reported a 154.6 billion Qatari riyals ($42.47 billion) net profit for 2022, a 58 percent rise compared to 2021, primarily driven by increased demand for LNG following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company has also recently inked a deal with UAE-based ENOC Group to supply 120 million barrels of condensate over a period that began in July 2023.

It is the world’s largest LNG producer. The company operates all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transport and storage.

 


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.