QatarEnergy has signed an agreement with China State Shipbuilding Corporation to construct six additional state-of-the-art QC-Max vessels, bringing the total number of LNG vessels on order under its fleet expansion programme to 128, including 24 QC-Max mega vessels. The new QC-Max vessels, each with a capacity of 271,000 cubic metres, will be built at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard, a wholly-owned CSSC subsidiary, and are the largest LNG vessels ever constructed. Delivery of these advanced carriers is scheduled between 2028 and 2031.
The agreement was signed during a special ceremony held in Shanghai, attended by His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, minister of state for Energy Affairs and president and CEO of QatarEnergy, Mr. Chen Jianliang, chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, and Mr. Hu Kai, president of China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd. The ceremony was also attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, CEO of QatarEnergy LNG, Ms. Jia Haiying, Member of the Party Leadership Group and chief financial officer of CSSC, senior Chinese government officials, and senior executives from QatarEnergy, QatarEnergy LNG, and CSSC.
Commenting on the agreement, His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said, “The signing of today’s agreement is underscored by the strategic importance of QatarEnergy’s historic LNG fleet expansion program and its commitment to maintaining a leadership position in the global LNG market.” He added, “We are very pleased to expand our excellent working relationship with CSSC and Hudong-Zhonghua, one of the world’s premier shipbuilders. We look forward to receiving these advanced LNG vessels and expanding our role in providing the world with the cleaner energy needed for a realistic and practical energy transition.”
This new order for six QC-Max vessels follows a recent order of 18 QC-Max vessels from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard, bringing the total number of QC-Max vessels ordered by QatarEnergy to 24, with a combined value of approximately USD 8 billion. The QC-Max vessels, equipped with cutting-edge technology, will significantly enhance QatarEnergy’s capacity to meet growing global LNG demand while reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence and environmental sustainability.
Designed with enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, the new ships will meet the highest safety and environmental standards, marking a significant advancement in sustainable innovation within the LNG sector. This expansion reflects QatarEnergy’s focus on quality and reliability as it continues to strengthen its position as a leader in the global LNG market.
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