KUWAIT CITY – Web Desk: Kuwait has begun consultations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf states on a new oil pipeline project to provide alternative routes for crude exports following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Kyodo News.
Kuwaiti Oil Minister Tarek Sulaiman Al-Roumi said various alternative routes are being considered, including a pipeline from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea or Oman, and another plan to link Kuwait to the UAE’s Fujairah port.
The minister said the project would be large and long-term, with consultations ongoing with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other relevant countries to determine the most effective and cost-efficient route. He confirmed that Kuwait’s crude exports have completely halted due to the Strait’s closure, and repairs to oil storage tanks damaged in recent attacks could take at least a year.
Al-Roumi condemned Iranian missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and other Gulf countries, stating that Kuwait has not carried out any military action against Iran while all critical installations, particularly the oil sector, are protected by a strong air defense system. Kuwait has also decided to further strengthen its air defense.
Energy experts say the pipeline project, if realized, could reduce future dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and provide greater security and stability for Gulf energy exports.
