Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, is expanding its overseas investments to counter production constraints at home, to diversify its output and to position itself to supply gas to new importers.

LNG World Shipping is keeping a close eye on developments in Qatar, after state energy giant Qatar Petroleum (QP) announced in December that it will merge state-owned producers RasGas and Qatargas.

At the time, QP said that the decision positions Qatar to weather falling energy prices. It is increasingly evident, however, that a long-term shift in strategy is under way that aims to future-proof Qatars position as an energy giant even as its domestic reserves shrink.

A new report from BMI suggests that the country’s natural gas production will peak next year. It goes on to highlight Qatars new, two-pronged strategy: positioning itself overseas and reorganising the two home-grown gas-production and LNG-export businesses.