{"text":[[{"start":7.95,"text":"Gulf countries that export oil via the Strait of Hormuz are in talks about planning pipelines that would allow them to bypass the waterway should it remain largely closed. "}],[{"start":17.5,"text":"Kuwait was among the countries talking to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about potential pipelines across their countries that could connect Gulf oil production to global buyers, said Sheikh Khaled Ahmad Al-Sabah, managing director of international marketing at Kuwait Petroleum Corp."}],[{"start":35.4,"text":"“Kuwait is in dialogue with a lot of neighbouring countries, in talks,” Sheikh Khaled said at an event in London on Wednesday. The US-Israeli war against Iran and the Iranian threat to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had made the case for pipeline projects, he said."}],[{"start":51.55,"text":"“Before, a lot of people thought ‘why are people building pipelines without using it?’ Yet now it shows the use of those pipelines.”"}],[{"start":59.449999999999996,"text":"The Strait of Hormuz has been all but closed to merchant shipping for more than three months after Iran started to use it as a point of leverage, and the US hit back with a blockade on Iranian ports. The Gulf states’ willingness to consider expensive infrastructure investments suggests they are looking for a contingency plan, now that Iran has proven its ability to hold the strait hostage. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"
"}],[{"start":83.44999999999999,"text":"However, if the conflict were resolved and ships could pass freely through the strait again, support for expensive pipeline projects could dwindle."}],[{"start":91.39999999999999,"text":"Of the states affected, only Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pipelines that can move oil to ports outside the strait without passing through other countries. Both countries have maximised the use of these pipelines since the conflict began."}],[{"start":107.44999999999999,"text":"Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it was in talks about potential new pipelines."}],[{"start":114.6,"text":"New pipelines would need to be built for other countries to use. According to the proposals under discussion, oil would typically load at ports in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and sail to destinations with access to pipelines that can pump the oil to ports outside the Strait of Hormuz."}],[{"start":133.29999999999998,"text":"The UAE was considering building a “west-east pipeline” for crude, said Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s executive vice-president for trading Philippe Khoury on Tuesday. When such a project has been discussed in the past, it was seen as a way for fellow Gulf producers to bypass the strait, while the host country would receive a tolling fee. "}],[{"start":152.95,"text":"But such projects have been talked about at various points in the past and failed to materialise. Many mutually beneficial projects between Gulf states have stalled because of concerns about over-reliance on neighbouring states and the potential vulnerabilities as a result."}],[{"start":169.39999999999998,"text":"The US-Israeli war on Iran has bolstered the case for such projects. The unpredictability of Iran’s actions meant Kuwait can no longer afford to rely on shipping through the strait, said Sheikh Khaled. Iran launched several attacks on Gulf targets overnight, including on Kuwait’s airport."}],[{"start":186.84999999999997,"text":"Kuwait was also talking to Oman about potential oil storage sites on the other side of the strait, said Sheikh Khaled. "}],[{"start":193.29999999999995,"text":"Additional reporting by Ahmed Al Omran in Riyadh. Map by Steven Bernard. "}],[{"start":205.44999999999996,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780541243_1297.mp3"}