Saudi oil pipeline again carrying crude for export, Bloomberg reports

Saudi Aramco has resumed moving crude through its East–West Pipeline for export, Bloomberg reported on Monday in an account carried by ANP. The route offers an alternative to shipping oil through the Strait of Hormuz, but it is unclear how much of its export capacity has been restored. Aramco and the Saudi energy ministry did not immediately respond to Bloomberg’s questions. [1]

The roughly 1,200km pipeline links Saudi Arabia’s Gulf side with the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The energy ministry said it shut the line as a precaution after it was targeted on 10 September. Reuters later reported damage to three pumping stations, citing satellite imagery and industry sources. [1] [2] [3]

Reuters reported on 24 September that pipeline operations had restarted two days earlier, although industry sources said crude was reaching Red Sea refineries while tanker loading had yet to resume. Asad Hasan, chief executive of Pakistan’s National Refinery Limited, had told Arab News on 22 September that a cargo for a Pakistani refinery was already loading. [3] [5]