OMM Newsroom
The United Arab Emirates is considering a third crude oil pipeline to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter, according to Anadolu Agency.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC, disputed the report. “We have advised Bloomberg that this report is not accurate and purely speculative,” an ADNOC spokesperson told the news outlet.
The proposed pipeline could run from the UAE’s western coast to the eastern port of Fujairah and be open to other companies, Bloomberg reported. ADNOC has discussed the project with some Asian customers, but the route and other plans have yet to be finalized, the report said.
Existing and planned pipelines to Fujairah
ADNOC’s existing pipeline transports crude from the Habshan fields in Abu Dhabi to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, where tankers can load without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Bloomberg reported that the line can carry about 2 million barrels a day.
The route has helped the UAE maintain exports during disruptions to shipping through the strait.
A second line, the West-East Pipeline, is under construction. ADNOC said in May that it expected the pipeline to begin operating in 2027 and double export capacity through Fujairah. Chief Executive Sultan Al Jaber said at the time that construction was 50% complete.
Last month, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that ADNOC had told some Asian refiners they could begin collecting crude delivered through the second line at Fujairah in early 2027.
UAE and Kuwait explore alternatives to Hormuz
The UAE’s efforts to reduce its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz extend beyond oil shipments. Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said earlier this year that the country planned to expand at least three ports on its eastern coast and invest in rail and road links, as well as pipelines, Bloomberg reported.
Kuwait, which relies entirely on the strait for its crude exports, has also held talks with the UAE and Saudi Arabia about alternative pipeline routes, Bloomberg reported, citing Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Chief Executive Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah.
