(Updates to include quote from Mike Sabel)

By Curtis Williams

HOUSTON, March 24 (Reuters) - Liquefied natural gas

exporter Venture Global ( VG ) is working with countries around

the world to deliver critical cargoes in the near term to help

cover supply shortages, CEO Mike Sabel said on Tuesday at the

CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, as the world reels from

attacks on energy infrastructure in the U.S.-Israeli war with

Iran.

Oil and gas prices are surging following the effective closure

of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on energy infrastructure,

including LNG-producing facilities in the Middle East.

QatarEnergy said a hit to its LNG plant has knocked out 17% of

capacity for up to five years, threatening supplies to Europe

and Asia.

"We're working right now with countries around the world to

bring in some critical cargoes," he said, including this month

and next month.

Venture Global ( VG ) is the second-largest LNG exporter in the

U.S. It has said that 31% of its production this year has not

been sold under long-term contracts, creating an opportunity to

sell LNG to Asian countries most affected by war-related supply

disruptions.

The company said it has adequate short-, medium- and

long-term supplies to support the market, and that it was

prepared to enter into short-term contracts with potential LNG

buyers.

Even as Venture Global ( VG ) is constructing its 20 million metric

tons per annum CP2 LNG plant, it is preparing for expansion by

ordering equipment, Sabel said.

Venture Global ( VG ) thinks it can become the U.S.'s largest LNG

exporter by 2029 by expanding its capacity of 37 mtpa to over 85

mtpa, based on expansions at CP2 and Plaquemines as well as

higher production than its nameplate capacity.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who also spoke at the event,

said his state would not limit the number of LNG plants it

accommodates and that it has the resources, including pipelines,

deepwater ports and other infrastructure to support the

investments.

The biggest impediment to continued LNG growth in Louisiana

is the shortage of labor, Landry said.