Monday, September 14, 2026, 3:34 PM
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Oman Calls for LNG Export Routes Bypassing Strait of Hormuz as Domestic Gas Output Rises 6.4%

Monday 14 September 2026 09:49
Oman Calls for LNG Export Routes Bypassing Strait of Hormuz as Domestic Gas Output Rises 6.4%

Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salem Al-Aufi, has called on regional and international stakeholders to establish alternative export corridors that enable liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to bypass the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on Monday at the Gastech conference in Bangkok, Al-Aufi emphasized the urgency of diversifying export logistics amid prolonged regional conflict in the Arabian Gulf that continues to disrupt energy supply chains.

The proposal comes as Oman's upstream hydrocarbon sector posted steady expansion through July 2026, marked by positive growth across both crude oil and natural gas production.

Strategic Push to Bypass the Strait of Hormuz

Corridor Diversification: Al-Aufi urged industry leaders to develop viable export conduits exiting through the north, through Oman, or via Yemen to ensure unhindered resource transit out of the Gulf basin.

Oman’s Strategic Geolocation: Unlike many Gulf producers, Oman operates an LNG export complex situated along its eastern coast outside the bottleneck of Hormuz, allowing its current shipments to bypass the chokepoint entirely.

Upstream Sector Performance (January – July 2026)

Preliminary data published by Oman's National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicates robust expansion across key petroleum metrics:

Crude Oil Dynamics: Total crude oil production climbed 11.3% year-on-year, while realized average export prices rose 15.7% over the seven-month period.

Total Natural Gas Production: Aggregate supply—encompassing domestic production and imports—grew 6.4% year-on-year to reach 34.98 billion cubic meters (bcm), up from 32.88 bcm during the corresponding period of 2025.

Natural Gas Output Breakdown

Gas CategoryJan–Jul 2025 (bcm)Jan–Jul 2026 (bcm)Growth (%)

Associated Gas7.317.88+7.8%

Non-Associated Gas & Imports25.5727.10+6.0%

Total Gas Output32.8834.98+6.4%

Strategic Implications

The dual track of upstream growth and infrastructural advocacy highlights Oman's positioning within regional energy diplomacy. By leveraging its geographic advantage outside the Persian Gulf entrance, the Sultanate aims to strengthen its role as an indispensable energy transit and export hub while mitigating maritime chokepoint vulnerabilities for global buyers.

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