Saudi Arabia halted East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks
Drone strikes on the strategic East-West oil pipeline stopped oil flows to the port of Yanbu. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy called the halt a precautionary measure, reported injuries, and did not announce a restart date. Up to 4% of global oil supplies are at risk.
Sources
· 14Удар дронов остановил нефтепровод Саудовской Аравии, под угрозой 4% мировых поставок
1Саудовская Аравия остановила нефтепровод Восток-Запад длиной 1200 км после атак
2Саудовская Аравия остановила нефтепровод «Восток–Запад» после атак в районах Эр-Рияда и Медины
3Саудовская Аравия закрыла нефтепровод Восток-Запад после атак хуситов
4Удары дронов поразили насосные станции нефтепровода Саудовской Аравии Восток-Запад
5Экспорт саудовской нефти через Красное море упал на 41%, остался только Суэцкий маршрут
6Хуситы захватили Моху и остров в Красном море, Саудовская Аравия закрыла нефтепровод после атак дронов
7Саудовская Аравия сократила добычу нефти до минимума с 1990 года, Brent выше $100
8Танкеры с саудовской нефтью отключают транспондеры в Баб-эль-Мандебском проливе из-за угроз хуситов
9Нефтеперерабатывающий завод Saudi Aramco в Джизане вновь атакован
10Саудовская Аравия заявила об атаке дронов из Ирака на нефтепровод East-West
11Saudi pipeline pumping 7 million bpd of oil, bypassing Hormuz, Bloomberg News reports | Reuters
12Saudi Arabia restores full capacity on East-West oil ...
13Saudi Arabia says attacks cut oil output and East-West Pipeline flow
14Key points
- Drones attacked the East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina areas on September 10–11, after which Saudi Arabia halted oil flows.
- The Ministry of Energy called the halt a precautionary measure, reported several injuries, and did not give a date for resumption.
- Buyers and traders said Yanbu port stocks would cover only five to seven days of imports if the pipeline is not restored.
- Up to 4% of global oil supplies could be at risk, in addition to losses from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
What happened
Drones attacked the East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina areas on September 10–11, after which oil pumping was halted. Several people were injured in the attacks and received medical treatment. The date for resuming pipeline operations is currently unknown. Saudi Arabia said the drones were launched from Iraq; other sources link the shutdown to attacks by Yemeni Houthis. Riyadh said it would refrain from a retaliatory strike for now at Baghdad's request.
Why it matters
The pipeline carries Saudi oil from eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, providing a route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Up to 4% of global oil supplies could be at risk. Buyers and traders said Yanbu port stocks would cover only five to seven days of imports if the pipeline is not restored.
What changed
Earlier, in March, this pipeline reached full capacity of 7 million barrels per day, and exports from Yanbu reached 5 million barrels per day. By June, crude oil exports from Yanbu had fallen 41% from the March peak, to 2.39 million barrels per day. Now the pipeline is halted, adding a new disruption to already reduced supplies. In two days, the Houthis seized the port of Mocha and an island in the Red Sea, tightening their blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Saudi oil exports to Asia fell by about half, from 3 million to 1.5 million barrels per day.
Who's affected
Tankers carrying Saudi oil have already switched off transponders in this strait because of Houthi threats. The Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan, with capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, was attacked on September 7.
Context
In August, Saudi Arabia cut oil production by about 1.9 million barrels per day, to 6.238 million barrels, the lowest monthly level since 1990. Brent crude rose above $100 per barrel amid concerns about shortages. In April, an attack on a pumping station cut the pipeline's capacity by 700,000 barrels per day, after which it was restored.
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