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S. Korea Seeks Oil Deals in Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia Amid Iran Crisis

A top South Korean presidential aide is visiting Kazakhstan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia to discuss securing vital crude oil and naphtha supplies. The mission is urgent as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, stranding 26 South Korean-flagged vessels. The government has prioritized stable supplies, having already secured 24 million barrels of crude oil from the UAE last month. The envoy aims to secure alternative sources and ensure tangible outcomes from high-level talks until the Middle East crisis is resolved.

Key Points: S. Korea Aide Visits Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia for Oil Security

  • Securing crude oil & naphtha supplies
  • Strait of Hormuz traffic closed
  • 26 S. Korean vessels stranded
  • Seeking alternative sources
  • High-level Middle East consultations
2 min read

South Korea: Top presidential aide to visit Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to discuss securing crude oil, naphtha

Top presidential aide Kang Hoon-sik visits Kazakhstan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia to secure crude oil and naphtha supplies amid Middle East tensions.

"The government's most urgent priority is to ensure the stable supplies of essential necessities - Kang Hoon-sik"

Seoul, April 7

South Korea President Lee Jae Myung's chief of staff said he will depart for Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia later Tuesday to discuss ways to secure crude oil and naphtha supplies amid few signs of apparent progress toward a truce in the US-Israeli war with Iran.

The planned visit by presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik to the region comes as the government has been seeking to secure crude oil as the traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed, with US President Donald Trump renewing threats against Iran if Tehran reopens the key oil shipping route.

The government's most urgent priority is to ensure the stable supplies of essential necessities, Kang told reporters, noting that South Korea remains heavily dependent on oil and naphtha supplies imported from the Middle East. Naphtha is a key feedstock widely used in petrochemical and other industries.

"Last month, we agreed to receive 24 million barrels of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates with top priority, and the shipments of crude oil and naphtha are arriving at South Korean ports," Kang said.

Kang also stressed the need to secure alternative sources until the Middle East crisis is fully resolved, vowing to work closely with companies to ensure that high-level consultations with the Middle Eastern countries lead to tangible outcomes, Yonhap news agency reported.

Additionally, Kang said the government is taking measures to ensure the safe passage of 26 South Korean-flagged vessels currently in the Strait of Hormuz while prioritizing the safety of the crew members and taking into account the positions of shipping companies. The vessels remain stranded in the strait since US.-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February.

Kang is set to depart later in the day as a special presidential envoy, along with trade ministry officials and officials from local energy companies.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
The real story is the 26 stranded ships and their crews. Their safety must be the absolute priority. These geopolitical conflicts have a very human cost that often gets lost in the headlines about oil and trade. Hope they get home safe soon. 🙏
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Aman W
Interesting to see South Korea engaging with Kazakhstan. Central Asia is becoming a key player. For India, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) becomes even more important to access these regions and reduce dependency on volatile maritime chokepoints.
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Sarah B
While securing supply is critical, I hope these "high-level consultations" actually lead to "tangible outcomes" for the people. Sometimes these diplomatic trips are more for show. The proof will be in whether the petrochemical plants keep running smoothly without price shocks.
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Karthik V
Naphtha is so important for plastics, fertilizers... everything. A disruption hits the entire manufacturing chain. This crisis shows why countries like ours need to seriously invest in renewable energy and green hydrogen to reduce this fragile dependency. Jai Hind!
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Varun X
The US-Israeli war with Iran is creating problems for the whole world. South Korea is far away but still gets caught in the crossfire. It's a lesson in how interconnected global stability is. Hope diplomacy prevails soon.

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