The UAE has avoided shutting down its natural gas pipeline with Qatar, despite closing air, sea and land links, due to its dependence on gas to generate electricity, according to reports.
Bloomberg cited International Energy Agency data as confirming the emirates relies on gas to meet half of its electricity needs and would need to replace Qatari fuel with more expensive liquefied natural gas if the Dolphin Energy pipeline were to close.
As it stands the pipeline remains open and gas continues to flow through the UAE to Oman, with no indication it will be cut off, a source told the news service, according to GulfBusiness.com.
Around 2 billion cubic feet of gas is sent through the 364 km undersea pipeline per day under the Dolphin Energy venture, which is 51 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment.
Occidental Petroleum and France’s Total hold the remaining shares with 24.5 per cent stakes respectively.
