Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that it has successfully restored full pumping capacity to its critical East-West oil pipeline, bringing it back to approximately seven million barrels per day (bpd).
The recovery comes just days after the Kingdom assessed the extensive damage inflicted on its energy infrastructure by a series of strikes during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Rapid Recovery of Energy Infrastructure
According to the Saudi Energy Ministry, facilities and sections of the pipeline impacted by recent attacks are now fully operational. This restoration is seen as a vital move to stabilize energy markets, as the East-West Pipeline currently serves as Saudi Arabia’s sole crude export route due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Key details of the recovery include:
- Pipeline Throughput: Restored after a disruption of roughly 700,000 bpd.
- Manifa Oilfield: Affected volumes have been fully recovered, reversing a previous reduction of 300,000 bpd.
- Khurais Facility: While the pipeline is at full capacity, work continues at Khurais to restore the remaining 300,000 bpd of production capacity lost to recent strikes.
Conflict Context and Impact
The Kingdom has faced a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones in recent weeks. While the ministry did not name a specific perpetrator for the most recent hits, reports indicate the pipeline was targeted just hours after a ceasefire agreement had been reached.
“The quick recovery will enhance the reliability and continuity of supplies to local and global markets,” the ministry stated.
The strikes had previously caused widespread disruptions across:
- Riyadh
- The Eastern Province
- Yanbu Industrial City
The damage initially cut total Saudi oil production capacity by approximately 600,000 bpd.
Ensuring Global Supply Continuity
With the East-West artery back at its 7 million bpd limit, Saudi Arabia aims to reassure international buyers of its resilience. The pipeline’s return to full strength is a significant logistical win for the Kingdom, providing a necessary bypass to regional maritime chokepoints that remain high-risk zones.
