Saudi Arabia restarts oil pipeline after drone attack
The East-West Pipeline is pumping again, but at limited capacity for now.
Saudi Arabia has partially restarted the East-West Pipeline after a drone attack. According to Reuters sources, exports via the Red Sea port of Yanbu can therefore resume, although it remains unclear when the pipeline will be fully operational.
The pipeline was shut down earlier this month after several pumping stations were damaged. Three sources who spoke to Reuters said Saudi Arabia began restarting the pipeline on Tuesday. Two of them said the oil is initially flowing at a low rate.
The East-West Pipeline runs across Saudi Arabia and carries oil to Yanbu on the Red Sea. This gives it an alternative to transport through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted by the war between the United States and Iran.
According to Reuters, the route can handle around four million barrels of oil per day. That is not a confirmed current production figure, but an indication of the pipeline’s importance to export capacity. Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil exporters.
Saudi Arabia has attributed the attack to militias in Iraq. Available public reporting confirms the damage and temporary closure, but not independently who carried out the attack. Responsibility therefore remains an allegation by the Saudi authorities.
The partial restart had an immediate impact on the oil market. Reuters reported that Brent crude fell by more than two dollars per barrel, moving towards its lowest level since 8 September. However, the precise cause of a market movement can never be attributed entirely to a single event.
Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, did not immediately comment, according to Reuters. As a result, the exact damage, current throughput volumes and timetable for reaching full capacity have not been publicly confirmed. The restart eases pressure on exports, but also highlights the vulnerability of oil infrastructure in the region.
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The article’s central account is based on recent reporting by Reuters and additional context from AP. Unconfirmed attributions are presented as allegations by Saudi Arabia.
- confirmed Saudi Arabia has partially restarted the East-West Pipeline. — Reported by three sources to Reuters. source
- confirmed The pipeline is initially operating at low capacity. — Two Reuters sources report a low pumping rate. source
- confirmed The pipeline provides a route around the Strait of Hormuz. — Reuters and AP describe the function of the East-West Pipeline. source
- uncertain Saudi Arabia identifies militias in Iraq as responsible. — The attribution comes from Saudi Arabia and has not been independently established. source
- confirmed Brent crude fell by more than two dollars per barrel after news of the restart. — Reuters reported this market movement. source
Editor's note
The partial restart and low pumping rate are based on Reuters sources. Responsibility for the attack and the timetable for reaching full capacity have not been independently confirmed.Sources
- Saudi Arabia restarts East-West oil pipeline, to resume exports from Yanbu, sources say — Reuters via Internazionale
- Saudi Arabia resumes East-West Pipeline operations — Saudi Gazette
- Saudi pipeline hit by drones will be out of service for weeks — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „saudi-arabië olie”
- AD — „saudi-arabië olie”
- de Volkskrant — „saudi-arabië olie”