Qatar to dramatically boost gas production with Japanese firm's help

Qatar Petroleum aims to boost Doha's gas production by more than 20 percent with a contract that was awarded to a Japanese state-owned giant said on Monday.

Chiyoda will "execute the Front End Engineering and Design of the onshore facilities of the North Field Expansion", state-owned Qatar Petroleum said in a statement.

Qatar in April announced plans to lift a self-imposed ban on development of the North Field, the world's biggest natural gas field which it shares with Iran.

But just weeks after the start of a diplomatic rift with Saudi Arabia and its allies, Qatar in July announced it aimed to increase production via the field.

The new facilities are expected to produce an additional 23 million tons per annum of liquefied natural gas, raising production from 77 to 100 mtpa.

Qatar had previously said it aimed to reach 100 mtpa by 2024.

Qatar, the world's number one exporter of liquefied natural gas, has found itself politically and economically isolated by the Saudi-led bloc since June 2017.

The bloc - which includes Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - accuses Qatar of promoting terrorism and seeking better ties with Saudi Arabia's Shia regional rival, Iran.

Doha denies the charges and says it is an attempt by its large neighbour to undermine its sovereignty and independent foreign policy.