TotalEnergies has suspended or is preparing to suspend its production operations in Qatar, Iraq, and offshore United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing escalating instability across the Middle East.
The affected sites collectively represent around 15 per cent of the French energy major’s global production.
Despite the shutdowns, the company confirmed that its onshore UAE production (approximately 210,000 barrels per day under its share) remains unaffected by the conflict and continues at normal operating levels.
The disruption marks a significant adjustment for TotalEnergies’ Middle East portfolio, though the immediate financial implications will reportedly be limited.
Cash flow from operations in the region has been running below the company’s global average because of higher taxation rates.
The halted volumes contribute roughly 10 per cent of TotalEnergies’ upstream cash flow, according to company data.
TotalEnergies said that its future output growth will increasingly come from outside the Middle East, reflecting a deliberate shift toward high-value barrels from more stable regions.
The company expects new projects to improve cash flow resilience and compensate for the reduced Middle Eastern contribution.
Company forecasts indicate that an increase of about eight dollars per barrel in the Brent crude price would offset the expected decline in cash flow from shuttered assets in Iraq, offshore UAE, and Qatar, assuming a price baseline of sixty dollars per barrel.
While upstream operations have been affected, downstream and trading activities remain stable.
The Satorp refinery in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Saudi Aramco, continues to operate without interruption and is meeting domestic fuel demand.
The company also confirmed minimal impact on its liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading business, as most Qatari LNG exports are marketed directly by QatarEnergy.
Only around two million tonnes of LNG are expected to be affected by 2026.
TotalEnergies said it is closely monitoring developments throughout the region and will issue updates should the geopolitical or operational situation materially change.
The company’s diversified production base, alongside its expanding portfolio in Africa, the Americas, and the North Sea, positions it to withstand regional disruptions and maintain its growth trajectory through the medium term.
In a separate development, TotalEnergies has restarted production at the Mabruk onshore oilfield in Libya following the completion and commissioning of a new production unit earlier this month.
The restart underscores the company’s strategy of reinforcing its upstream presence in areas where operations can be managed under stable conditions.
Although the current Middle East instability poses challenges to supply continuity, TotalEnergies’ proactive management of its global assets suggests that the company is well prepared to balance short-term production impacts with longer-term growth opportunities.
With key infrastructure such as the Satorp refinery and the UAE’s onshore operations secured, the company appears poised to maintain overall output stability as conditions in the region continue to evolve.
