India is actively exploring a strategic shift in its energy logistics by bypassing the increasingly vulnerable Strait of Hormuz and leveraging Oman’s coastline and deep-water port infrastructure for LNG and broader energy trade. The move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, which have heightened concerns over chokepoint disruptions impacting global energy flows.

Under the framework of the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), New Delhi is looking to significantly scale up its use of Omani ports such as Duqm and Sohar as alternative transit hubs. These facilities offer direct access to the Arabian Sea, effectively avoiding the Hormuz bottleneck while ensuring supply chain resilience.

India’s Ambassador to Oman, Prashant Pise (IFS 1995 batch), is understood to be playing a central role in operationalising this strategy. Sources indicate that ongoing diplomatic and commercial engagements are focused on fast-tracking logistics agreements, port access, and energy storage collaborations.

The initiative aligns with India’s broader objective of diversifying energy routes and enhancing maritime security amid an evolving regional security architecture.