Saudi Arabia plans to boost pipeline oil exports to 10 million barrels daily
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced plans to raise Saudi pipeline crude capacity to as much as 10 million barrels per day by repurposing a gas line and expanding the East-West network.
At the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman outlined a strategy to expand Saudi Arabia’s pipeline oil export capacity to roughly 10 million barrels per day. By temporarily converting an existing gas pipeline, the kingdom could add up to 1.2 million barrels per day within a few weeks, and further investment could raise the total increase to about 3 million barrels. The minister informed Saudi Aramco that the pipeline may transport crude until May, after which it must be restored for gas use ahead of the summer season.
Additional upgrades to the East-West pipeline’s pumping stations and related infrastructure are intended to divert more oil from the Gulf and Red Sea shipping lanes to land routes. The overall plan targets a capacity boost over the next two to three years, enhancing export flexibility and reducing reliance on maritime chokepoints.
Why it matters
Increasing pipeline capacity could reshape global oil flows and lessen Saudi Arabia’s dependence on sea routes.
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