Under-pressure Qatar says to boost gas production 30%

Energy-rich Qatar said on Tuesday it plans to increase natural gas production by 30 percent over the next several years, as it faces pressure from its neighbours in a diplomatic crisis.Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the head of Qatar Petroleum, told a press conference that the emirate intends to raise production to 100 million tonnes of natural gas a year by 2024."This new project will strengthen Qatar's leading position," Kaabi told reporters.