India’s proposed deepwater oil pipeline from the United Arab Emirates to its western coast could provide an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, but the ambitious project faces major engineering, logistical and financial hurdles, according to UK shipbroker Alibra Shipping.
The proposed pipeline would run roughly 1,200 kilometres beneath the Arabian Sea, potentially connecting the UAE with India’s Gujarat coast. The project has gained attention as disruptions linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict expose India’s dependence on energy shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic waterway handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Around 40% of India’s crude imports also transit the strait, making disruptions a significant risk to the world’s third-largest crude oil importer.
UK engineering company Peritus International said in May that it had been awarded a feasibility study by India’s South Asia Gas Enterprises (SAGE) to examine the proposed pipeline.
However, Alibra warned that construction beneath the Arabian Sea would be extremely challenging. The route would have to navigate geological features including the Indus Fan and Owen Fracture Zone.
A related Middle East-to-India deepwater gas pipeline proposal could reach depths of up to 3,450 metres, which would make it one of the deepest offshore pipeline systems ever constructed. Transporting crude oil at such depths would bring additional operational challenges.
Current estimates put construction at five to seven years, potentially allowing the project to become operational between 2031 and 2033. The estimated cost is approximately $4.7 billion to $4.8 billion.
Despite growing interest in alternatives to Hormuz, the project remains preliminary. Alibra noted that India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in June that no formal proposal or active negotiations were under consideration.
The debate comes as Gulf producers increasingly examine ways to reduce their reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia is considering increasing the capacity of its pipeline to the Red Sea by as much as two million barrels per day, while Kuwait has discussed using an expanded system for its own crude.
The UAE is meanwhile advancing a second pipeline to Fujairah that could double capacity to 3.6 million barrels per day and provide another route outside the Strait of Hormuz. The project could become operational in 2027 once related port infrastructure is completed.
Shipbroker Gibson cautioned, however, that pipelines are not immune to geopolitical risks. Unlike moving tankers, fixed energy infrastructure can be difficult to protect, particularly amid the growing use of relatively inexpensive drones in regional conflicts.
For India, a direct UAE-to-Gujarat pipeline could ultimately provide greater energy security by reducing dependence on one of the world’s most vulnerable maritime chokepoints. But its extreme depth, challenging seabed terrain, multibillion-dollar price tag and lengthy construction timeline mean it remains a long-term possibility rather than an immediate solution to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
