Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, held a virtual meeting on Tuesday with Singapore’s Minister of Manpower and Minister in charge of Energy, Dr Tan See Leng, according to a press release obtained by Doha News.

Discussions focused on the impact of the ongoing regional conflict on the global energy sector and ways to ensure the security of energy supplies.

Al-Kaabi reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to remaining a reliable energy supplier and said he looked forward to strengthening energy relations and cooperation with Singapore.

QatarEnergy had ceased production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products on March 2 following Iran’s attack on its facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City. The company had said that it “values its relationships with all of its stakeholders and will continue to communicate the latest available information.”

On March 6, Qatar’s energy minister Saad Al Kaabi warned that the escalating regional conflict could “bring down the economies of the world” if it continues. He said energy exports across the Gulf could halt within weeks, and that even if the war ended immediately, it could take “weeks to months” for Qatar to resume normal LNG deliveries.

Qatar accounts for nearly 20% of global LNG trade. The halt in production creates significant pressure on gas markets.