Pipelines Carry Saudi Oil Through War-Torn Region Amid Global Market Crisis

The ongoing war in the Middle East has caused a significant disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a crisis that has affected global markets. To mitigate this situation, two pipelines built specifically for this purpose - one in Saudi Arabia and one in the United Arab Emirates - are being used to transport oil from the Persian Gulf to world markets.

The pipelines, which bypass the Strait of Hormuz, have become crucial infrastructure in preventing an even worse crisis. Saudi Aramco's chief executive, Amin Nasser, stated that while disruptions have occurred in the past, this one is the biggest crisis the region's oil-and-gas industry has faced.

The Saudi pipeline, which runs from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, is currently operating at full capacity, transporting a maximum of seven million barrels of oil per day. This is significant, as it allows for five million barrels that could reach global markets each day, equivalent to most of Saudi Arabia's crude shipments through the strait in the run-up to the war.

However, analysts warn that these pipelines are not foolproof and can be vulnerable to attacks. As long as oil flows through them, some crude can still reach buyers while more than 1,000 ships are stuck in the Persian Gulf.