Oman pitches new port that could give India better access to Gulf energy
Located away from the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz, Sohar Port is located close to vital energy pipelines of the United Arab Emirates and eastern Saudi Arabia
Oman has proposed a new port located in Sohar, which could provide India with a more reliable access to energy resources from the Persian Gulf. This proposal comes amid tension between Iran and the United States, which has led to the chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz. During a high-level visit to New Delhi, Raid Al Rubaiey, CEO of Sohar Freezone and Deputy CEO of Sohar Port, emphasized the importance of India as a significant player in Sohar's international investment landscape.
Al Rubaiey highlighted the potential for deepening the relationship through investments that complement the industrial clusters and strengthen value chains, creating new opportunities for growth. The port, situated on the Omani coast along the Gulf of Oman, offers an alternative to ports affected by the Strait of Hormuz due to its distance from the chokepoint.
The Sohar Port has already attracted over $30 billion in investments and can handle an annual cargo volume of 72 million tonnes. Oman had previously offered Duqm and Salalah ports to India, but Sohar Port stands out due to its strategic location in the northeast of Oman, near crucial energy pipelines in the United Arab Emirates and eastern Saudi Arabia.
Sohar Port is expected to become even more vital as the Oman-UAE rail connects the port to the UAE's network, enhancing cross-border freight transport.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
