Follow Al Rai
Assessments from three sources in the oil and security sectors indicate that two pump stations serving Saudi Arabia's vital east-west pipeline were damaged in an attack last week, and the timeline for their repair remains unclear.
The pipeline, which contributed to easing the bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz, was temporarily halted on Friday following a drone attack that Saudi officials say originated from Iraq.
The sources mentioned that the eighth and ninth pump stations were affected by the attack.
Oil sector estimates suggest that the pipeline operates with 11 pump stations and two separate pressure relief stations.
This pipeline has been the main route for Middle Eastern oil supplies to global markets over the past six months, as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has largely ceased due to the war.
The pipeline transports between four million and five million barrels per day, accounting for 4-5% of global supplies, thereby sparing Saudi Arabia the brunt of the disruption that has affected oil and gas exports in other Gulf countries.
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
