Straits of Hormuz become irrelevant by the end of the year- Iran an Easier Target

[JCMach1]

Abu Dhabi: A pipeline to send the oil of the United Arab Emirates directly to the Indian Ocean instead of being shipped by tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, probably will be finished this year, said Mohammad Bin Dha'en Al Hameli, UAE Minister of Energy.

The $3.3 billion (Dh12 billion) pipeline to Fujairah aims to "bypass" the strait and will carry about 1.5 million barrels of oil a day, Al Hameli said in an interview in Washington.

The waterway is a choke point at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf for a fifth of the world's oil supplies. Iran has threatened to block the strait if attacked because of its nuclear programme.

Not to pressurise

While the UAE is confident the strait will remain open to tankers, the purpose of the pipeline is "to really not put too much pressure on the ships coming into the Gulf," Al Hameli said... http://gulfnews.com/business/oil-gas/uae-s-oil-pipeline-nears-completion-1.686980

Don't be shocked when Israel and/or the US ratchet up pressure in the coming year. :(

[denbot]

1. The largest tankers (TI class) can carry 3.1 million barrels of oil each load.

The total oil that leave the Persian Gulf is 23 million barrels per day. The pipeline would be only be a drop in the bucket, and is a very long stationary target.