shell plc said tuesday that it has been chosen by qatarenergy to participate in the 29 billion north field east liquefied natural gas expansion project in qatar the uk energy company said it will hold a 25 stake in a jointventure company that will own 25 of north field east qatarenergy will own the remaining 75 of the project to build four lng trains with a combined liquefaction capacity of 32 million metric tons a year last month exxon mobil corp totalenergies se and eni spa were also chosen to join the project this is the largest project in the history of the lng industry and will support the delivery of muchneeded gas supplies to market around the world shell said north field east will expand qatars annual lng capacity to 110 million tons by 2026 from the current 77 million tons placing the country as the largest lng producer in the world the project will require an investment of 2875 billion according to eni through its pioneering integration with carbon capture and storage this landmark project will help provide lng the world urgently needs with a lower carbon footprint shells chief executive ben van beurden said lng which is transported by ship is viewed as the main option for europe to replace pipeline gas imports from russia qatar traditionally exports most of its lng to other countries in asia but european buyers willing to pay a premium could result in higher seaborne deliveries to europe shares in shell at 1205 gmt were down 23 at 21530 pence