World Energy Outlook 2007

The bulk of China’s and India’s crude oil and refined product imports is
shipped by sea. China imports oil through a pipeline from Kazakhstan, the first
leg of which was commissioned in 2006, and by rail from Russia. The Chinese
and Kazakh governments recently agreed to double the capacity of the pipeline
to around 400 kb/d. China is seeking to boost imports of Russian oil by
pipeline, but Russia has not yet taken a decision on whether to proceed with
the construction of a spur line to Daqing in northern China. This line would
link with the 600 kb/d line from Taishet (in East Siberia) to Nakhodka (on the
coast of the Sea of Japan), the first leg of which is under construction. China
has also proposed building a pipeline running across Myanmar to the Chinese
border carrying Middle Eastern oil, which would circumvent the Straits of
Malacca.
4
Rising Chinese and Indian imports of oil from the Middle East will push up
both countries’ reliance on two critical shipping channels. In the medium term,
at least, most of the Middle Eastern oil shipped to both countries will continue
to transit the Straits of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf – the world’s
busiest oil-shipping lane. The straits comprise two 3-km-wide inbound and
outbound lanes. Only a small proportion of the oil could be transported along
alternative routes. In 2006, approximately 13.4 mb/d, or 16% of the world’s
total oil supply, passed along this route. The Middle Eastern oil destined for
China is subsequently shipped through the Malacca Straits between Indonesia,
Malaysia and Singapore – another busy and narrow route. In 2006, volumes
shipped through this channel (including a small amount from West Africa)
reached about 12 mb/d, of which approximately 2.5 mb/d went to China.
However, alternative, slightly longer routes exist, such as the Straits of Lombok
and Sunda in Indonesia. The volumes shipped through the Straits of Hormuz
and the Straits of Malacca are projected to increase significantly in all three
scenarios (Figure 4.4).
Although the Straits of Hormuz have never been closed to shipping (though oil
shipping was attacked during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988), growing
tensions over Iran’s nuclear policy have highlighted the risk of disruptions to
shipping in the event of a major regional conflict. In response to growing
concerns about this risk among Persian Gulf oil exporters, a trans-Gulf pipeline
has been proposed. The line would start in Kuwait, cross Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates and end in Oman, Yemen or Fujairah outside the straits,
picking up oil along the way. It is uncertain whether the project will receive
political and financial backing. A smaller line from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah has
already been given the green light.
Chapter 4 - The World’s Energy Security 169