Nikkei analyzes damages at seven energy complexes in Qatar, UAE and others
An aerial view of Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar's production base for liquefied natural gas, shows damage in areas around facilities.
TOKYO/LONDON -- During the military conflict between the U.S. and Iran, missile strikes damaged oil and gas facilities around the Gulf region. One estimate puts the cost of restoring this infrastructure at $46 billion.
Nikkei examined seven complexes built with the help of Japanese companies, early movers in energy projects in the Middle East, based on an analysis of satellite imagery and on-the-ground video footage.
Japanese companies once held a commanding position in the region's energy infrastructure market. But China and India have expanded their presence in recent years and a new contest is now taking shape over reconstruction contracts.
Among the damaged sites is Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, one of the world's largest hubs for liquefied natural gas. The complex has long-standing ties to Japanese companies. In 1997, Japan's Chubu Electric Power began buying Qatari LNG, becoming the Middle Eastern country's first customer.
Go Matsuo, managing director of the Energy Economics and Society Research Institute, who assisted Nikkei with the satellite-image analysis, said Iran "most likely targeted the heat exchangers, the most critical pieces of equipment in these plants." He added, "Restoration could take around three years."
