Total Energies' CEO: Bypassing Hormuz Is Now an ‘Absolute Priority’

Total Energies' CEO: Bypassing Hormuz Is Now an ‘Absolute Priority’ Charles Kennedy Wed, June 24, 2026 at 3:24 PM GMT+2 2 min read The months-long disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is forcing a fundamental rethink of global energy infrastructure, according to TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné, who says new export pipelines that bypass the strategic waterway must become a top priority. Speaking at an energy conference in Paris on Tuesday, Pouyanné said the recent Iran crisis had exposed the vulnerability of global oil and gas markets to disruptions in the narrow chokepoint, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies normally transit. "The reality is that the Strait of Hormuz represents a genuine threat, so we must act," Pouyanné said.

"To ensure it doesn't remain a threat, there is only one solution: we must invest in pipelines to bypass the strait. That is an absolute priority. " The comments come after months of severe disruptions to tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf, prompting governments and energy companies to reassess the resilience of global supply chains.

Several Middle Eastern producers have already accelerated plans to expand pipeline capacity to alternative export terminals outside the Gulf. Pouyanné highlighted several potential routes, including expanding export corridors from Abu Dhabi and Iraq, as well as developing links through Syria and Turkey to Mediterranean ports. "When you are in Iraq and you need to reach the sea, you can go down through Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, or head towards Syria or Turkey," he said.

The TotalEnergies chief also pointed to history as evidence that such projects are achievable. He noted that Total's predecessor companies discovered oil in Iraq in 1928 and subsequently built an export pipeline to Syria, allowing crude to reach Mediterranean markets and European refineries. "If our predecessors did it 100 years ago, I believe we should be capable of doing it again today," Pouyanné said.

His remarks reflect a growing consensus across the energy industry that pipeline diversification—not just additional storage or tanker capacity—may be the most effective long-term response to future disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors.

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