The threat of open-ended Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz is pushing Gulf countries to revisit costly plans for pipelines to bypass the choke point so they can continue to export oil and gas.
Although such projects would be expensive, politically complex and take years to complete, officials and industry executives say new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries’ enduring vulnerability to disruption in the strait.
The current conflict has underscored the strategic value of Saudi Arabia’s 1,200km East-West pipeline. Built in the 1980s after fears that the Iran-Iraq ‘tanker war’ would close the strait, it is now a key lifeline, delivering 7mn barrels of oil a day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing Hormuz entirely.
Given that containers and bulk cargo will also be interrupted, it might make more sense to build a lot of railroads. There are probably tons of old locomotives that were decommissioned because they aren’t economical sitting in train graveyards around the world ([like this one](https://youtu.be/suxTRjcaBG0)) that you could get working for a couple years.
wyocrz on
I mean, it’s not like the primary geopolitical to America has been building a network of roads, railroads and pipelines, right? Right????
Nittanypt on
This would have been a great idea 5 years ago.
Akiraooo on
I feel like a drone could take out a pipeline pretty quick. Oil is flammable also… oil is in the pipeline…
niz_loc on
I’m actually beyond surprised this hadn’t already been done. Of not this exact idea, the big picture idea of it.
Regardless of relations to Tehran by any gulf country, for decades the two sides have been suspicious of each other. And Iran already did a smaller version of this in the 80s.
You would think the Saudis etc would have already looked forward to the day that could happen again and planned a workaround.
BAKREPITO on
This is a decade long project. What’s the point of scrambling now? Continue building nonsense like the ski resort in the desert and the line shaped concrete glass monstrocity instead of strategic infra you should’ve 20 years earlier.
StrengthDazzling8922 on
Have they even considered moving oil via teleportation to nearest Waffle House?
needssomefun on
Not just oil that goes through there but…ok….sure! It will take years to get it done.
Kahzootoh on
They going to build these pipelines deep underground? That isn’t cheap, quick, or easy to maintain.
Building new pipelines isn’t much of a solution these days, because the range of Iran’s strike weapons basically the places entire region’s infrastructure at risk.
The Iranians have already demonstrated that they are willing to attack oil infrastructure directly- bypassing the strait of Hormuz only means that the Iranians have to use their airborne weapons rather than sea mines to do the job.
New pipelines would also need air defenses, and infrastructure that is shielded against air attacks- otherwise it’s pointless.
_Algrm_ on
I think gulf states need to consider new alliances because clearly the US fucked them 6 ways from Sunday.
They dragged them into this war, their safety and economy are in tatters. Also those patriots interceptors cost a million a pop that they’re paying the price of not the US.
Also they just signed an 8 billion dollars deal to buy more interceptors to replenish the ones they used in AMERICA’S WAR.
Also the White House speaker just said with a smile on her face they will be sending the receipts of the war to the gulf leaders to pay for it.
Oh and after doing all of that for the US, Trump comes out and says the Saudi Monarch kisses his ass.
Like how much humiliation can you take this’s pitiful honestly.
Jonger1150 on
5 years will cost them 20% or more of market demand.
12 Comments
The threat of open-ended Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz is pushing Gulf countries to revisit costly plans for pipelines to bypass the choke point so they can continue to export oil and gas.
Although such projects would be expensive, politically complex and take years to complete, officials and industry executives say new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries’ enduring vulnerability to disruption in the strait.
The current conflict has underscored the strategic value of Saudi Arabia’s 1,200km East-West pipeline. Built in the 1980s after fears that the Iran-Iraq ‘tanker war’ would close the strait, it is now a key lifeline, delivering 7mn barrels of oil a day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing Hormuz entirely.
**Read the full story with your email, here:** [https://www.ft.com/content/880664d8-e110-4760-8b00-aa3141a770ff?syn-25a6b1a6=1?segmentid=c50c86e4-586b-23ea-1ac1-7601c9c2476f](https://www.ft.com/content/880664d8-e110-4760-8b00-aa3141a770ff?syn-25a6b1a6=1?segmentid=c50c86e4-586b-23ea-1ac1-7601c9c2476f)
Victoria – FT social team
Given that containers and bulk cargo will also be interrupted, it might make more sense to build a lot of railroads. There are probably tons of old locomotives that were decommissioned because they aren’t economical sitting in train graveyards around the world ([like this one](https://youtu.be/suxTRjcaBG0)) that you could get working for a couple years.
I mean, it’s not like the primary geopolitical to America has been building a network of roads, railroads and pipelines, right? Right????
This would have been a great idea 5 years ago.
I feel like a drone could take out a pipeline pretty quick. Oil is flammable also… oil is in the pipeline…
I’m actually beyond surprised this hadn’t already been done. Of not this exact idea, the big picture idea of it.
Regardless of relations to Tehran by any gulf country, for decades the two sides have been suspicious of each other. And Iran already did a smaller version of this in the 80s.
You would think the Saudis etc would have already looked forward to the day that could happen again and planned a workaround.
This is a decade long project. What’s the point of scrambling now? Continue building nonsense like the ski resort in the desert and the line shaped concrete glass monstrocity instead of strategic infra you should’ve 20 years earlier.
Have they even considered moving oil via teleportation to nearest Waffle House?
Not just oil that goes through there but…ok….sure! It will take years to get it done.
They going to build these pipelines deep underground? That isn’t cheap, quick, or easy to maintain.
Building new pipelines isn’t much of a solution these days, because the range of Iran’s strike weapons basically the places entire region’s infrastructure at risk.
The Iranians have already demonstrated that they are willing to attack oil infrastructure directly- bypassing the strait of Hormuz only means that the Iranians have to use their airborne weapons rather than sea mines to do the job.
New pipelines would also need air defenses, and infrastructure that is shielded against air attacks- otherwise it’s pointless.
I think gulf states need to consider new alliances because clearly the US fucked them 6 ways from Sunday.
They dragged them into this war, their safety and economy are in tatters. Also those patriots interceptors cost a million a pop that they’re paying the price of not the US.
Also they just signed an 8 billion dollars deal to buy more interceptors to replenish the ones they used in AMERICA’S WAR.
Also the White House speaker just said with a smile on her face they will be sending the receipts of the war to the gulf leaders to pay for it.
Oh and after doing all of that for the US, Trump comes out and says the Saudi Monarch kisses his ass.
Like how much humiliation can you take this’s pitiful honestly.
5 years will cost them 20% or more of market demand.