Saudi Arabia restarts East-West Pipeline after drone attack

Saudi Arabia has restarted operations on its critical East-West Pipeline following a drone attack on September 11 that damaged infrastructure and halted crude loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The pipeline serves as a vital bypass to the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the kingdom to divert approximately 4 million barrels of oil per day—about 4% of the global supply—to western export terminals.

While initial pumping has resumed at a low rate, Saudi Aramco is working to restore flow rates toward the 4 million barrels per day target. Reaching 40% capacity is expected to take several days, though industry sources suggest that restoring full pumping operations could take between six and eight weeks. The attack reportedly damaged three of the 11 pumping stations servicing the line.

The news of the restart triggered a sell-off in global energy markets, with Brent crude falling by more than $2 a barrel to its lowest price since September 8. In addition to resuming exports, the line will begin supplying crude to Aramco refineries along the Red Sea coast.