UAE to accelerate second West-East pipeline, bypassing Strait
Abu Dhabi is accelerating construction of a new West-East pipeline to Fujairah as it plans to expand its oil export capacity and bypass the Strait of Hormuz crossing point.
The project, which is expected to become operational in 2027, will double the export capacity of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
The second pipeline project comes as global energy supplies remain under pressure, with flows through the Strait of Hormuz severely limited and repeated attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping restricting the UAE’s ability to restore normal production.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan On Friday he called for faster delivery of the pipeline to meet rising global energy demand.
The Crown Prince told a meeting of the company’s board of directors that ADNOC “is well positioned as a responsible and reliable global energy producer with the operational flexibility to responsibly increase production to meet market needs when export restrictions allow.”
The emirate announced earlier this month that it would leave OPEC, the producer group of which it has been a member since 1967, before the UAE was formed. The UAE is investing heavily through ADNOC to increase production capacity.
Before the war, the UAE was producing just over 3 million barrels per day, broadly in line with OPEC+ targets. Abu Dhabi has targeted a production capacity of 4.9 million BPD. Now, due to the war, the UAE produces between 1.8 and 2.1 million barrels per day.
The Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (Adcop), also known as the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, is the only existing pipeline through which the UAE can export its oil and leave the Strait of Hormuz. It can carry up to 1.8 million barrels.
