Key facts
- Two pumping stations on Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline were damaged in an attack last week.
- The pipeline was shut down Friday following drone strikes attributed to groups in Iraq.
- Satellite imagery shows significant damage at one pumping station.
- Repair timelines are unclear, with some experts estimating over a month for repairs.
- Brent crude oil prices surged to $108 a barrel following the shutdown.
- The closure could reduce oil supplies by as much as 3.6 million barrels per day.
Two pumping stations along Saudi Arabia's crucial East-West Pipeline were damaged in an attack last week, leading to its temporary shutdown and raising concerns about global oil supplies. Assessments from oil and security sources indicate that repairs could take more than a month, potentially driving oil prices higher.
The pipeline, which spans 1,200 km (745 miles) across Saudi Arabia, is vital for exporting crude oil via the Red Sea, offering an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen increased tensions and attacks during the ongoing war with Iran. Saudi officials stated the pipeline was shut down on Friday after a drone attack originating from Iraq.
Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify shows significant damage at one of the pumping stations. The Saudi government has accused Iranian-backed militias in Iraq of carrying out the strike. This incident follows a series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen's Houthi group, also backed by Iran, on southwestern Saudi Arabia.
US President Donald Trump, when asked about the incident, suggested Iran was likely responsible. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, stating it would allow the Iraqi government space to react. The Houthis have recently captured strategic points along the Red Sea, increasing their control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical energy route.
Experts from Kpler estimate that the pipeline's closure could reduce global oil supplies by as much as 3.6 million barrels per day. Homayoun Falakshahi, Kpler's head of crude oil analysis, noted that repair times could range from four to six weeks, depending on spare parts availability and supply chain conditions. Anne-Sophie Corbeau of Columbia University commented that pipelines are vulnerable and that workarounds to avoid the Strait of Hormuz may not be entirely secure.