Saudi Arabia plans to double oil pipeline capacity to 10 million barrels a day within three years - Gulf News

Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline is a major crude oil transportation system. It moves oil from production areas in the kingdom’s Eastern Province to export terminals at Yanbu on the Red Sea. This connection matters because it links eastern oil supplies with ports on the kingdom’s western coast.

The pipeline provides a route that does not require every barrel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Its present capacity is five million barrels a day, and Saudi Arabia plans to expand it to 10 million barrels daily within two to three years. That would greatly increase the volume it can move across the country.

The project is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider energy-security strategy. The energy minister said investments in pipelines, storage, technology and alternative export routes have helped the kingdom maintain supplies during crises. The planned expansion is intended to strengthen that resilience as regional risks continue.

After its planned expansion, Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline will be able to handle up to 10 million barrels of crude oil each day. That is a major increase in the amount of oil the system can move from the kingdom’s eastern production region to western export terminals.

The pipeline’s capacity was previously expanded to five million barrels a day. Reaching 10 million barrels daily would therefore double its earlier capacity. The additional capability would give Saudi Arabia more flexibility when deciding how and where to send crude during market or regional disruptions.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the development should be completed within two to three years. The expansion is part of decades of investment in energy infrastructure. It also supports Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to maintain international supplies when shipping routes or critical facilities face threats.

The East-West Pipeline gives Saudi Arabia another way to reach export terminals. Instead of shipping all crude from eastern ports through the Strait of Hormuz, oil can travel by pipeline across the kingdom to Yanbu on the Red Sea. This reduces dependence on one maritime route.

The Strait of Hormuz is described as vital to global energy trade. When export routes face threats, a disruption there could affect the movement of oil and other energy supplies. The pipeline’s land route helps Saudi Arabia redirect some exports toward Yanbu, providing additional operating flexibility during a crisis.

Saudi Arabia has already expanded the pipeline to five million barrels a day and plans to double that capacity. The minister said alternative routes, storage and other infrastructure have helped the kingdom navigate successive crises and continue serving international markets.

If a major export route or oil facility were disrupted, oil supplies could become harder to move to customers. Delays or reduced flows could increase pressure on energy markets and make it more difficult for countries to secure dependable fuel. The article connects these risks directly to recent regional tensions and supply disruptions.

The effect would depend on how quickly operators could respond. Resilience includes repairing damage, restoring operations, redirecting supplies and continuing to serve customers during a crisis. Spare production capacity alone is not enough if pipelines, storage sites, ports or other infrastructure cannot function.

Saudi Arabia has invested in alternative export routes, storage, emergency capacity, technology and domestic supply chains. These measures are designed to limit the impact of disruptions. The article also notes that refined petroleum product flows through Hormuz remained at only 25 to 35 per cent of pre-conflict levels.

Saudi Arabia’s response can involve several layers rather than one backup system. Storage facilities can hold crude or products for use when regular shipments are delayed. Alternative ports and export routes can redirect cargoes if a particular terminal or sea lane becomes difficult to use.

The East-West Pipeline is the clearest example. It moves crude from the Eastern Province to Yanbu on the Red Sea, avoiding total dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Aramco President and Chief Executive Amin Nasser also said the company was studying additional crude export options and opportunities to expand storage capacity outside the kingdom.

These measures give Saudi Arabia more choices during a disruption. The energy minister said decades of investment had strengthened the kingdom’s ability to maintain supplies. Future capacity, overseas storage and coordinated export planning could help it continue serving customers while repairs or route changes are underway.

Pipelines are only one part of energy security. A resilient system must also repair damage, restore operations, redirect supplies and keep serving customers during a crisis. That requires equipment, trained workers, emergency capacity and reliable supplies close to home.

The article describes decades of investment in infrastructure, storage, technology, domestic supply chains and local expertise. Developing local manufacturing capabilities is especially important when international supply chains are under pressure. Domestic suppliers may help provide needed parts or equipment while operators repair facilities and maintain production.

This approach gives Saudi Arabia more control over its response to disruptions. It also reduces the risk that a problem in one route or external supply chain will stop the wider system. Prince Abdulaziz said the kingdom would continue investing in infrastructure and emerging technologies, including renewable energy and battery storage, while preparing for rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence.

Crude oil is petroleum in its unrefined form. It must be transported from production areas to refineries, where it can be processed into fuels and other products, or to export terminals for international buyers. The article focuses on this movement as a central part of energy security.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline shows how the system works. It carries crude from the Eastern Province to Yanbu on the Red Sea. The route links oil supplies with export infrastructure and offers another path when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces risks. Its planned capacity will reach 10 million barrels a day.

Reliable movement matters because interruptions can reduce supplies reaching customers and expose markets to disruption. Saudi Arabia has invested in pipelines, storage, ports, technology and domestic capabilities to keep oil moving. The minister said these investments helped the kingdom maintain international supplies through successive crises.