Saudi East-West Pipeline Shut Down Amid Drone Strikes
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, also known as Petroline, has been shut down due to drone strikes in the Riyadh and Medina regions. The Saudi Energy Ministry described the shutdown as 'precautionary', allowing emergency and technical teams to secure the pipeline and check its safety.
The pipeline, operated by Aramco, stretches approximately 1,200 kilometers from Abqaiq in the Eastern Province to Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. It carries crude oil from Saudi Arabia's main production areas to refineries, storage facilities, and export terminals on its western coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
The East-West pipeline has become a crucial route for Saudi Arabia's oil exports, especially after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz declined amid the US-Iran conflict. The pipeline can transport up to 7 million barrels per day, with around 2 million barrels directed towards refineries on the western coast.
The shutdown is expected to impact Saudi Arabia's ability to deliver crude to western-coast refineries and Red Sea export terminals, as well as its capacity to use Yanbu as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The full consequences of the shutdown are still unknown, but it is likely to have significant implications for global oil markets.