Saudi Arabia Says East–West Oil Pipeline Operating After Strike

Saudi Arabia’s East–West oil pipeline was struck Monday in the Madinah region, Saudi state media reported, citing an Energy Ministry source. The strike caused a limited fire that emergency crews extinguished. The source said no one was injured and the pipeline continued operating. The Saudi statement did not identify who carried out the attack.

Why this pipeline matters

The 1,200-kilometer pipeline carries crude from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu on the Red Sea. That gives the kingdom a way to load oil onto tankers without sending them through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the conflict disrupted traffic through the strait, Saudi Arabia has rerouted about 4 million barrels a day through the pipeline, according to Reuters.

The line was temporarily shut down after strikes in September. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said the resulting loss of Saudi exports helped push Brent crude to a daily spot price of $131 a barrel on September 15 as buyers scrambled for supplies. Saudi authorities say Monday’s strike left the route operating.