The Pakistani government plans to establish strategic oil reserves at the deep-water Gwadar port, located a few hundred kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's primary global oil transport routes.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing "The Express Tribune," that Islamabad intends to involve Middle Eastern hydrocarbon-producing nations, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, in the implementation of the "Energy City" project.
According to official sources, these strategic reserves will be utilized as a priority by Pakistan in the event of emergencies, such as the outbreak of war. Minister for Maritime Affairs Mohammed Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stated that "Energy City" will provide international stakeholders with the capacity to store oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for export. The minister emphasized that while meeting Pakistan's domestic needs remains the priority, the facility is also designed to serve global demand.
The development of Gwadar port is a cornerstone of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is strategically positioned to become a major regional transshipment hub. By establishing large-scale storage facilities near the Strait of Hormuz—through which approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes—Pakistan aims to enhance its energy security and leverage its geographical position to become a vital link in the global energy supply chain. This move comes as South Asian nations increasingly seek to insulate their economies from volatile global energy markets and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
