Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline Expected Back Online Within Days

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline is expected to be back in operation within days, after being temporarily closed following attacks by Iran-aligned groups. The 1,200-km pipeline has carried Middle Eastern oil since the Strait of Hormuz was largely shut.

The pipeline had been moving 4-5 million barrels per day, amounting to 4% to 5% of global supply, sparing Saudi Arabia the brunt of the disruption that has crippled other Gulf oil and gas exporters. Wright said Saudi Arabia is taking steps to move more oil out of the Strait of Hormuz with assistance from the US military.

The East-West pipeline was closed after attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, which also took over the entire Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia had informed its European customers that late-September crude oil cargoes would be cancelled due to the pipeline being shut and the Houthis' control of the Red Sea coast.