Second Hormuz LNG strike extends force majeure on Italian utility

A second tanker carrying Qatari liquefied natural gas was struck while leaving the Strait of Hormuz, weeks after the Al Rekayyat was hit in the same area, Euronews reported on Monday. Italian utility Edison said QatarEnergy had extended force majeure on a further three cargoes, bringing the total affected to 24 shipments through September.

The strike on the GasLog Shanghai deepens a supply disruption that directly touches Italy's energy security. Edison, one of the country's major gas importers, now faces a prolonged period of reduced LNG deliveries from Qatar, a key supplier to the Italian market.

The widening force majeure comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Italy's energy balance. The country has relied increasingly on LNG imports as it has reduced pipeline gas from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, and Qatari cargoes have become a cornerstone of that diversification strategy. The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Italy has placed all 27 major cities under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave of summer intensifies, with temperatures edging close to 40C in some areas — conditions that typically drive up electricity demand for cooling and put additional strain on gas-fired power generation.

The disruption in the Gulf also has implications for European energy solidarity. The Euronews report noted the strike occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global LNG trade passes. While the wire does not detail broader European market reactions, the loss of 24 cargoes through September represents a significant supply reduction for a continent still managing the fallout of the energy crisis and competing for LNG on global markets.

For Italy, the timing compounds an already difficult summer. The heatwave has raised concerns about energy infrastructure resilience across south-eastern Europe, with the Guardian's live blog noting that Romania had resorted to detonating explosives on the Danube to increase water flow to cool a nuclear power plant. Italy's own energy mix, heavily dependent on gas for power generation, leaves it exposed to supply shocks of this kind.

The force majeure extension through September suggests the disruption will persist through the peak summer demand period. Edison has not, according to the wire, indicated how it plans to source alternative supplies, and the company's options may be limited given global competition for LNG cargoes.