Saudi Arabia has restarted its East-West oil pipeline at a low rate after drone attacks forced a shutdown, with crude exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu potentially resuming on Tuesday, according to sources.
Saudi Arabia has restarted operations at its East-West oil pipeline and could resume crude exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu later on Tuesday, according to three sources briefed on the matter.
The pipeline was operating at a low pumping rate, two of the sources said, signalling a gradual restoration of Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure after it was forced to shut following drone attacks.
State oil giant Saudi Aramco had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
Drone attacks on September 11 forced Saudi Arabia to shut the East-West Pipeline on September 13, disrupting crude supplies to Yanbu and halting oil loadings from the Red Sea port.
The East-West Pipeline is strategically important to Saudi Arabia as it provides an alternative route for transporting crude from the kingdom’s oil-producing areas in the east to the Red Sea, allowing exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The resumption of pipeline operations could help restore some of the crude export capacity affected by the attacks, although the low pumping rate suggests that operations may initially remain limited.
