Saudi Pipeline Operates Normally After Attack Report Dismissed

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline remains operational despite earlier reports suggesting an attack had disrupted its flow. Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the matter, confirming that crude oil continues to be transported through the pipeline, contradicting claims of extensive damage to a pumping station in Khurais and a halt in operations. Neither Saudi Aramco nor the Saudi Energy Ministry provided immediate comments on the alleged incident. By late last week, the pipeline was running at over 80 percent of its 7 million-barrel-per-day capacity.

Following Bloomberg's update, oil prices retracted from earlier gains. Prices had spiked by up to 1.2 percent after initial reports of the attack emerged, as traders reacted to potential supply disruptions from the world's largest crude exporter. The pipeline, which supplies refineries on Saudi Arabia's west coast, still had about 4.5 million barrels per day available for export through the Red Sea terminal.

The East-West pipeline serves as a critical alternative export route, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint often targeted during regional tensions. The Saudi Energy Ministry had previously confirmed attacks on September 10 that targeted the pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, leading to a precautionary shutdown at that time. The 1,200-kilometer line ensures continued crude exports when maritime passages face security threats, though there has been no indication of enhanced security measures following the September incidents.