Shell plc has partially restarted operations at its Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility in Qatar, marking progress toward recovering production capacity after the Iran war damaged the plant in March 2026, as per Reuters. The restart will enable Shell to build limited inventories of finished products, although shipments remain dependent on security conditions in the region. Meanwhile, QatarEnergy has begun returning Pearl-GTL naphtha cargoes to the market, offering some relief to buyers facing tight supplies of oil-based feedstocks.
The development is important for Shell because Pearl is a major component of the integrated gas business and supplies products to its downstream operations, including lubricants. However, the partial restart does not mean that the facility has returned to normal production. Repairs to one of its two processing trains remain underway, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Pearl GTL, based in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, converts North Field natural gas into liquid products, including gasoil, kerosene, base oils, naphtha and normal paraffins for the petrochemical industry.
Shell said the restart would allow it to build up a limited amount of product in storage. The company has not indicated that normal shipping operations have resumed. Its ability to maintain safe and reliable operations continues to depend on regional security and the availability of safe maritime routes.
Pearl GTL has a capacity of 140,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. A March attack damaged Train 2, one of its two processing units, leading Shell to assess the facility’s condition. The company had earlier projected that repairs would take about a year to complete.
The latest development therefore represents an initial recovery step rather than a complete restoration of the facility’s operating capacity. The pace of further progress will depend on the repair schedule, operating conditions and the ability to transport products to customers.
Alongside Shell’s partial restart, QatarEnergy has started offering cargoes containing Pearl-GTL naphtha through the spot market and resumed some contractual deliveries. These developments indicate that limited volumes are becoming available again following months of disruption.
Traders reported that QatarEnergy issued a spot tender offering as much as 50,000 metric tons of naphtha across four grades, including Pearl-GTL naphtha. The cargoes were offered on a free-on-board basis from Ras Laffan, meaning buyers would generally take responsibility for transportation after the cargoes were loaded.
