Strait of Hormuz May Not Return to Normal, Whether It’s Open or Closed

Even if the Strait of Hormuz opens again, energy executives and analysts say the industry will no longer be able to count on it as it used to. For the strait, there is no going back to normal.

Countries across the region are exploring building, expanding or rehabilitating infrastructure that would bypass the strait.

And nations that import fuel from the region are racing to secure oil and gas from elsewhere, putting conservation measures in place and turning to alternatives like coal. Those strategies are likely to shift over time. Today’s coal use may give way to greater investment in solar power and nuclear energy, for example.

No matter what happens next, Iran will not forget how easy it is to strangle shipping through the strait, meaning that energy companies and consumers must prepare for a very different future.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/business/energy-environment/strait-hormuz-oil-natural-gas.html