QatarEnergy reports 'extensive damage' after missile attacks on Ras Laffan

By Yomna Ehab and Jaidaa Taha

March 18 (Reuters) - Qatar's state oil giant QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan, the site of the country's core LNG processing operations, caused "extensive damage."

"Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires," the world's second-largest LNG exporter said in a statement. No casualties were reported and all personnel were accounted for, it said.

Qatar's interior ministry earlier said the fire was preliminarily brought under control, with no injuries reported.

Ras Laffan, located 80 km north of Doha, is an energy-industry hub and hosts several international companies.

Qatar's foreign ministry told Iran's security and military attaches to leave the country within 24 hours and declared them "persona non grata".

In a statement, the ministry condemned the attack as a "direct threat" to its national security and accused Iran of taking an "irresponsible approach."

Saul Kavonic, head of research at Australia's MST Marquee, said attacks on Ras Laffan "could cause a lasting global gas shortage, but this wont pressure the Trump administration because the U.S. benefits economically from high global gas prices".

Iran earlier issued an evacuation ‌warning for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, including the Ras Laffan Refinery, saying they would ​be targeted by strikes "in the ​coming hours," Iranian state media reported.

Evacuation orders were issued for Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG installations, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday following Iran's threat.

The Laffan refinery primarily processes condensate into refined products including aviation fuel.