Saudi pipeline attack damages three pumping stations, repairs may take 5–6 weeks

  • Saudi Arabia reported damage to three East-West pipeline pumping stations after last week's attack.
  • Repairs could take five to six weeks, while the system previously moved 4–5 million bpd.
  • Yanbu inventories fell nearly 6 million barrels over two months, according to Kpler.

Damage from last week's attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline is more extensive than initially assessed, with three pumping stations affected, Reuters reported, citing satellite imagery and industry sources. Repairs could take five to six weeks, although partial pumping may resume sooner. The system had been moving 4 million to 5 million barrels per day, equivalent to roughly 4%–5% of global oil supply, against total capacity of about 7 million bpd. Saudi Aramco is seeking to restore roughly half of that capacity within days, potentially by bypassing damaged infrastructure, while full operations could take around six weeks. The shutdown has pushed Brent crude to around $108 per barrel and increased Saudi Arabia's reliance on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway the pipeline was designed to avoid. Yanbu inventories have fallen by nearly 6 million barrels in two months to below 15 million barrels, limiting the buffer available to maintain exports. The disruption is also tightening diesel and gasoline markets, lifting refining margins and adding to inflationary pressure. It shows that alternative pipelines, storage and export terminals can provide flexibility but cannot remove geopolitical risk when infrastructure itself becomes a target.

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