Qatar says gas pipelines bypassing Strait of Hormuz not viable

"Qatar will not build gas pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz because this is not economically viable."

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi made the statement.

"Based on commercial and technical criteria, we decided not to consider gas pipelines as an alternative," the minister said.

Saad al-Kaabi noted that Qatar already exports liquefied natural gas (LNG):

"If the pipeline option had been chosen, the gas would first have had to be transported in gaseous form and then reliquefied at receiving terminals, regardless of their location.

This would have meant duplicating facilities that are already being built as part of the expansion of Qatar’s North Field. From an economic perspective, it makes no sense," the minister added.

Qatar is one of the world’s leading LNG exporters, while the Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for energy shipments from the Gulf. The North Field expansion is intended to increase the country’s LNG production and export capacity.