Energy firm Centrica have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), which aims to develop new and existing projects in upstream oil and gas including liquefied natural gas, gas storage and combined-cycle gas turbine generation.

Sam Laidlaw, chief executive officer of Centrica said: “Centrica is playing a leading role in securing Britain’s future energy security. Our strategic relationship with Qatar is central to this goal, linking the world’s leading LNG exporter with one of the world’s most important gas markets. The partnership will enable us to jointly develop significant energy investments that will further boost the long-term security of the UK’s gas supply.”

Centrica and Qatar have already signed a three-year contract for the supply of 2.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. The £2 billion contract aims to provide enough gas to meet approximately 10% of the UK’s annual residential gas demand.