Kuwait is holding discussions with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the possibility of exporting its crude oil through their pipeline networks, a senior Kuwaiti energy official said on Monday.
Speaking at the Atlantic Council’s energy forum in Washington, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah said the talks are focused on expanding existing pipeline infrastructure to facilitate Kuwaiti oil exports.
“We are in discussions with our brothers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE about how to expand their pipeline systems to accommodate Kuwaiti barrels,” he said.
Al-Sabah said Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are coordinating closely to address the challenges created by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for regional energy exports.
“The GCC countries are working together better than they have in a long time,” he said.
According to Al-Sabah, GCC members maintain a mutual assistance mechanism under which one member state can export oil on behalf of another in the event of a disruption, with financial settlements made at a later stage.
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However, he noted that current circumstances have complicated such arrangements because regional producers have limited spare export capacity.
As a result, Gulf states are examining options to expand pipeline networks and diversify export routes.
Al-Sabah cautioned that alternative infrastructure remains vulnerable to attack, noting that the security of pipelines ultimately depends on the safety of export terminals and supporting facilities.
“Pipelines are only as safe as the export terminal,” he said, referencing previous attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
He added that while damage to pipelines can often be repaired relatively quickly, attacks on compressor stations or export terminals can have far more significant consequences for energy exports.
Kuwait has been among the countries most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of the regional conflict on 28th February.
Without a direct alternative export route, Kuwait has been forced to reduce crude production to levels largely sufficient for domestic consumption, limiting its ability to supply key markets in Asia and Europe.
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