Why Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline matters for global oil
Summary
Drones attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, causing the country to stop its oil flow through the pipeline as a safety measure. This pipeline is important because it moves oil from the east of Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea, allowing the country to avoid shipping oil through the busy and tense Strait of Hormuz.Key Facts
- The East-West pipeline is about 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) long and can carry up to 7 million barrels of oil per day.
- It connects oil fields in eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
- The pipeline was attacked by drones in two areas near Riyadh and Medina, causing damage and injuries.
- The attack forced Saudi Arabia to suspend pipeline operations while assessing repairs.
- Drone attacks were traced to southeastern Iraq, near the Iranian border, an area with Iran-aligned armed groups.
- The pipeline’s shutdown impacts global oil supply because the Strait of Hormuz, an alternative shipping route, is partially closed due to conflict.
- Saudi Arabia had increased oil flow through the pipeline to about 4-5 million barrels per day since February to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
- Repairs could take several weeks, and Saudi oil export stocks at Yanbu may last only 5-7 days without pipeline operations.
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