Oman has officially proposed the establishment of alternative export routes for liquefied natural gas (LNG) that avoid transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Sea-news.az reports citing international media, that Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salim Al-Aufi, emphasized the pressing necessity of developing alternative marine and pipeline export corridors against the backdrop of months-long conflicts in the Gulf affecting energy security.
“Let us identify alternative export options. This could pass south through Oman or Yemen. Let us diversify our routes,” the Minister stated.
In parallel with Oman’s initiative, reports indicate that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is actively evaluating the construction of a new LNG export facility located entirely outside the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, Oman already operates an established LNG export terminal on its eastern coast that remains completely independent of the Hormuz chokepoint.
Energy analysts note that the prolonged regional crisis has laid bare the vulnerabilities of Gulf economies, a vast majority of whose energy exports have historically relied on a single strategic maritime passage. This systemic exposure is driving producing nations to diversify transit lanes and implement proactive contingency measures to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
Prior to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, approximately one-fifth of global LNG supplies transited through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
