Saudi Arabia Restores East-West Oil Pipeline After Attack Disruptions
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Apr 12
Saudi Arabia Restores East-West Oil Pipeline After Attack Disruptions
9 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Apr 12
Saudi Arabia has restored full pumping capacity to its East-West oil pipeline after recent attacks disrupted operations.
The pipeline, now back at 7 million barrels per day, had suffered a 700,000 barrel daily reduction following strikes amid the Iran conflict.
This rapid recovery reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role in stabilising global oil supplies, especially as the East-West pipeline bypasses the closed Strait of Hormuz.
Beyond oil, what critical global supply chains are now imperiled by the Strait of Hormuz closure?
Is Saudi Arabia's pipeline fix merely a band-aid for global energy's deepening crisis?
What are the unseen human and economic costs of the Red Sea and Hormuz shipping blockades?
What security innovations are needed to protect vital energy infrastructure from repeated attacks?
How does the ongoing conflict empower China and Russia in vital petrochemical and fertilizer markets?
Does the clean energy transition merely shift global energy chokepoint vulnerabilities to new materials?
Impact and Recovery: Saudi Oil Infrastructure Hit by 1.3 Million Barrels/Day Production Loss in April 2026 Assaults
Overview
In April 2026, Saudi Arabia swiftly restored its East-West pipeline to full capacity and fully recovered production at the Manifa oilfield after coordinated attacks by Iran and its proxies severely damaged critical energy infrastructure, including the Khurais oilfield and major refineries. These attacks, part of ongoing regional tensions following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, caused significant supply disruptions and contributed to a sharp global oil price surge. Despite a fragile ceasefire, threats persist, prompting Saudi Arabia to enhance infrastructure protection, deploy advanced defenses against drone swarms, and strengthen international cooperation to safeguard energy security and stabilize global markets.