India is reportedly accelerating plans for a direct deep-sea gas pipeline from the Gulf, a strategic move to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies amidst escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. This ambitious project, estimated to cost ₹40,000 crore (approximately $4.7-4.8 billion), is aimed at bolstering India's energy security and reducing its reliance on unpredictable LNG spot markets.
Strategic Route to Bypass Geopolitical Hotspots
The proposed deep-sea gas pipeline is designed to traverse the Arabian Sea, connecting via Oman and the United Arab Emirates. This carefully planned route intentionally avoids geopolitically sensitive areas, offering a more stable and secure pathway for energy imports.
According to a report citing a petroleum ministry official, the project is anticipated to take five to seven years to complete. A pre-feasibility study has already been conducted by the South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), a private consortium. Following this, state-run entities such as GAIL, Engineers India, and Indian Oil Corporation are expected to prepare a detailed feasibility report.
A positive outcome from this report would pave the way for formal government-level discussions with Oman regarding gas supply, financing, and overall project execution.
Advanced Technology for Deep-Sea Infrastructure
This pipeline is set to be one of the deepest undersea pipelines globally, with sections potentially laid at depths of up to 3,450 meters. Advances in deep-sea pipe-laying and repair technologies have made such an undertaking technically feasible. SAGE has already invested ₹25 crore in laying approximately 3,000 meters of test pipeline along the proposed route to thoroughly study seabed conditions.
The successful completion of this pipeline would grant India direct access to vast gas reserves from a region encompassing Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Qatar, collectively holding an estimated 2,500 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Hormuz Crisis Underpins Urgency
The urgency behind India's deep-sea gas pipeline initiative is underscored by the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway, which handles one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, has been a focal point of wider geopolitical instability.
Recent developments include an agreement between senior US and Chinese officials that no country should impose shipping tolls in the strait. This consensus emerged from discussions between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in April, ahead of an anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Iran's control over the strait is expected to be a key topic.
Iran's near-complete closure of the trade route since joint Israeli-US airstrikes on February 28 has significantly unsettled global energy markets. Tehran has demanded the right to collect tolls on shipping as a condition to end the conflict, while the US has maintained a naval blockade on Iran. India's pipeline project offers a crucial alternative to mitigate risks associated with such volatile transit points.