QatarEnergy has extended its force majeure on liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to European customers, intensifying the pressure on Europe to stockpile fuel reserves ahead of winter and casting a shadow over future gas supply prospects.

According to insiders, the world's leading LNG exporter has pushed back the suspension of deliveries from early September to the end of September. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to confidentiality requirements. This move will impact several clients, including Italy's Edison Energia.

Force majeure refers to extraordinary and unforeseen events, such as war or extreme weather, that prevent a company from fulfilling its contractual obligations. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted LNG shipments in the Persian Gulf, a region that once supplied roughly one-fifth of the global total, causing significant volatility in the offshore gas market.

Currently, Europe and Asia are competing for limited alternative gas sources, with soaring temperatures in multiple countries further driving up natural gas demand.