Abu Dhabi: A natural gas field containing 80 trillion standard cubic feet of gas has been discovered between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, claimed the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

Authorities believe that the new Jebel Ali field would help the Emirates become more energy independent. And UAE will no more have to import natural gas from Qatar for electricity.

According to Al-Jazeera, an agreement between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Dubai Supply Authority was signed for the exploration and development of the gas resources.

ADNOC asserted that the new discovery reinforces the nation’s goal of achieving gas self-sufficiency, enabling major development projects.

Despite being blockaded by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, over a years-long political dispute, Qatar has continued to supply its Gulf neighbour with gas via the Dolphin pipeline.

In June 2017, the UAE and three other Arab nations imposed a land, air and sea blockade on Doha, accusing it of “supporting terrorism”, the allegation which Qatar has repeatedly and vehemently denied.

ADNOC and the Dubai Supply Authority will explore and develop the shallow gas field, which spans some 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles), ADNOC said.

Presently, Qatar is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, which produces and supplies 42 million metric tonnes of LNG to the world annually.