ADNOC adapts LNG exports to bypass Strait of Hormuz tensions

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is employing unconventional tactics to maintain liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the Persian Gulf amid escalating tensions and military friction between Iran and the United States near the Strait of Hormuz.

Satellite imagery indicates that ADNOC tankers have been operating in ‘dark mode’ by disabling their transponders to avoid detection while docked at facilities such as Das Island. To bypass the instability of the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates has also implemented rare ship-to-ship transfers in safer waters. Reports suggest that three LNG carriers from the UAE and Qatar have utilized this method within the last month.

To mitigate long-term risks, ADNOC is accelerating infrastructure projects, including the construction of a second pipeline to Fujairah. This project aims to double the capacity of the existing export conduit to the port city located outside the Strait of Hormuz by next year. Despite these efforts, the company has warned that the impact of regional conflict on energy supplies could persist into 2027.