Pakistan plans to develop a maritime energy city and new deep-sea ports along its coastline to strengthen its role in regional energy logistics, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Wednesday, as the Iran war and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz reshape global trade flows.

The initiative comes as the conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, including attacks on regional energy infrastructure and an effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, has disrupted shipping and pushed up oil prices globally.

The strait, a key artery for about one-fifth of global oil supply, has seen traffic collapse, forcing countries to reassess supply chains and storage capacity.

Chaudhry said Pakistan was moving to capitalize on shifting trade patterns by expanding port infrastructure and energy storage capacity.

“Pakistan Maritime Energy City will offer state-of-the-art storage facilities for oil, LNG and LPG,” he said while chairing a meeting on identifying sites for new deep-sea ports, according to an official statement.

He said the country aimed to become a regional energy logistics center, adding that Pakistan had demonstrated its transshipment capacity amid heightened regional tensions.

“Pakistan has proven its transshipment capability despite regional tensions, and we aim to transform the country into a regional energy logistics hub,” he said.

Chaudhry said feasibility studies for three to four new ports along the coastal belt were in their final stages, with consultations planned with provincial governments and other stakeholders.

He added that smaller energy units would be established to support major ports, while international investors would be offered incentives as part of the project.

Pakistan has in recent weeks taken steps to secure fuel supplies and manage demand as global markets react to the disruption in Gulf shipping routes, with officials emphasizing preparedness to maintain energy flows.

The minister said the initiative formed part of a long-term “100-year vision” to strengthen Pakistan’s maritime sector and ensure it can meet both domestic energy needs and regional deman
Source: Arab News

Fujairah energy storage costs rise amid Middle East conflict (17)
Dubai-listed Gulf Navigation Holding is looking to maximise returns amid rising demand for energy storage that has sent costs skyrocketing due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The shipping and maritime logistics firm has announced plans to expand its energy sector portfolio, noting that Fujairah – its primary storage base – has seen an increase in costs following rising global demand for energy storage and handling services.

The US and Israeli war on Iran, now entering its fifth week, has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime chokepoints for the energy sector, where roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through.

With the vital passage now disrupted, analysts have pointed to the UAE’s major bunkering hub in Fujairah, which is outside the Strait, as the only remaining way to move oil out of the Gulf region.

Gulf Navigation, which recently completed its acquisition of Brooge Energy, owns and operates one of the world’s most advanced storage and blending terminals in the emirate.

The firm reported total operating revenue of AED 307.5 million for 2025, up 9% from a year earlier. It said it now looks forward to “sustaining its growth trajectory” in light of rising storage requirements in the energy sector, particularly in Fujairah.

“Fujairah has witnessed a notable rise in storage costs driven by growing demand on its storage capacity,” the company said.

“Its strategic importance stems from its unique geographical location on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, overlooking one of the world’s most critical maritime routes near the Strait of Hormuz.”

According to International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates, crude and oil product flows through the Strait of Hormuz have plunged from 20 mb/d before the war to a trickle currently.

Since the Middle East conflict began, storage costs in Fujairah have doubled or tripled as the port in the emirate reached 90% capacity, according to reports.
Source: ZAWYA