QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil have activated the first unit of their $10bn+ Golden Pass LNG plant on the US Gulf Coast, aiming to ease global shortages worsened by the Iran war. The facility, capable of producing 18mn tonnes of LNG annually once fully operational, shipped its inaugural cargo in Q2 2026. Saad al-Kaabi, QatarEnergy CEO, called the timing “critical” for energy security as rivals Adnoc and Woodside expand US LNG stakes. However, analysts warn Golden Pass cannot fully offset losses from Qatar’s halted production (80mn tonnes/year trapped in the Gulf) and UAE’s 5mn tonnes blocked by Hormuz Strait threats. Iran’s March 19 attack on Ras Laffan facilities, damaging Exxon and QatarEnergy assets, will take five years to repair. Charlie Riedl of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas noted rising interest in US LNG, citing Golden Pass as a “meaningful” but partial solution.