The chief executive of QatarEnergy has promised that 2023 will be a “historic” year for the Middle East liquefied natural gas producer as it continues to line up long-term contracts for LNG supplies.

Speaking Tuesday at the LNG2023 conference in Vancouver, Canada, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi — who also serves as Qatar’s energy minister — pointed to last month’s agreement to supply China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) with 4 million tonnes per annum of LNG for 27 years.