Saudi Arabia has successfully restored the full pumping capacity of its East-West pipeline to 7 million barrels a day, according to the Saudi energy ministry. The rehabilitation of this critical infrastructure comes after a strike last week damaged one of the pipeline's 11 pumping stations, temporarily reducing throughput by 700,000 barrels a day.
Impact on Global Oil Supply
The East-West pipeline is a vital artery for Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely inaccessible. Since late February, Saudi Arabia has quadrupled crude shipments from its Red Sea terminals to compensate for the disruption caused by the Strait's shutdown. This move underscores the kingdom's strategic efforts to maintain global oil supply stability.
"This quick recovery reflects the high operational resilience and crisis management efficiency of Saudi Aramco and the kingdom’s energy ecosystem as a whole," the energy ministry stated.
Production Updates
In addition to the pipeline repairs, Saudi Aramco has also restored output from its offshore Manifa oil production facility. However, work continues at the Khurais onshore complex, which produces the lighter crude pumped through the East-West pipeline. Attacks on both Manifa and Khurais had previously cut production capacity by approximately 300,000 barrels a day at each site.
The swift restoration of these facilities highlights Saudi Arabia's commitment to ensuring uninterrupted oil supplies to both domestic and international markets, reinforcing its role as a key player in the global energy landscape.