DOHA – Qatar has discovered an offshore gas field containing 2.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, its first such discovery since 1971, Energy Minister Mohammad Bin Saleh Al Sada was quoted as saying Sunday.



The discovery was made at the 4-North offshore block near the large North Field, by a consortium that includes Wintershall AG of Germany and Mitsui Gas Development Qatar, the Qatar News Agency quotes Al Sada as saying.



Al-Sada, who is also managing director of Qatar Petroleum, said “we are very pleased” with the discovery. He said it was part of an effort by the country to “prudently explore for and develop our natural resources” as part of contribution to the country’s economic prosperity.



Qatar, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, holds the world’s largest natural gas reserves and is the single-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas.



The Gulf state has proven natural gas reserves of about 890 trillion cubic feet-about 13 percent of total world natural gas reserves-most of which is located in its offshore North Field, the world’s largest non-associated gas field.



Qatar’s North Field, shared with neighboring Iran, was discovered in 1971 and provides the emirate with 900 trillion cubic feet in gas reserves.



“We will start production, God willing, in the next few years” from Block 4N, Al Sada told reporters. “We have already started planning and looking at different engineering options.”



The discovery is larger than Germany’s total proven gas reserves, which the BP Statistical Review of World Energy published in June 2012 lists at 2.2 trillion cubic feet. Russia holds the biggest gas reserves, followed by Iran, according to data compiled by BP Plc.



Qatar produces as much as 77 million tons a year of liquefied natural gas, making it the world’s biggest exporter of the fuel chilled for shipment by sea. A government moratorium on further development of the North Field has prevented Qatar from increasing LNG exports since it started operating its 14th and final gas liquefaction plant in 2011. — SG/Agencies