Saudi Suspends East-West Oil Pipeline Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry announced on Friday that it would suspend operations on the East-West oil pipeline as a precautionary measure. The decision comes after multiple targeting incidents, which have been a growing concern for the region.
The East-West pipeline is Saudi Arabia's main crude export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. It carries oil from the Kingdom's eastern production areas to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, with a capacity of about seven million barrels per day. Around two million bpd of this crude is supplied to refineries, according to Aramco.
The company has heavily relied on the East-West pipeline this year due to regional conflict disrupting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The suspension of operations will likely have significant implications for global oil markets and supply chains.