Saudi Arabia is planning to ramp up pipeline capacity by 40% to 10 million barrels per day within two to three years, as reported by NDTV. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced these ambitious plans at the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, building on the kingdom's existing cross-country conduit that currently pumps 7 million barrels daily. Within seven to eight weeks, state producer Saudi Aramco could add 1.2 million barrels per day of extra capacity by using existing natural gas pipelines to carry crude, according to the minister's statements. The longer-term plans include improvements to pumping stations on the East-West pipeline, with the kingdom working with Aramco on dual-use capability to carry oil or gas depending on circumstances.
The WPC Energy Congress proceeded in Riyadh despite deadly attacks claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, with several top energy executives dropped from the schedule including the CEOs of ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron and BP. As reported by Business Standard, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman opened Monday's session, thanking attendees and emphasizing the kingdom's safety measures. "To everyone who travelled to Riyadh, thank you," the minister said, adding that "you know this country is safe and that we hold your protection at whole heart." The congress was originally scheduled for April 2026 but was postponed after the US and Israeli war on Iran began in late February. The minister acknowledged that "the events of recent weeks were serious and that the kingdom's response must be equally serious."
The expansion comes as Saudi Arabia faces almost daily attacks on its energy and civilian infrastructure during the Middle East conflict that has pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel. As reported by NDTV, Prince Abdulaziz emphasized that "the essence of responding to a crisis is that you have to focus on your resilience and creating options." The minister highlighted the value of the East-West pipeline during the crisis, noting that its use had more than recovered its cost. The route connects Saudi Arabia's eastern oil-producing region with the Red Sea, providing an alternative to shipping crude through the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West pipeline allowed the Saudis to keep as much as 70% of their normal flows to market during the near-closure of Hormuz, with the pipeline currently carrying 5.8 million barrels per day as of October 6.
Saudi Arabia is actively working on potential international partnerships when looking to add other export routes, with the country in talks with countries like Kuwait, according to NDTV. The kingdom is also working with neighboring Oman, the only country on the Arabian Peninsula with most of its ports outside Hormuz, which has proffered itself as a potential pipeline end point. Oman's energy investment firm is developing storage at the port of Duqm on the Arabian Sea, which would allow for loading crude without being reliant on risky ship transits through Hormuz. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser reiterated that the company is looking at alternate export routes and boosting international storage, having previously said the company will boost export capacity at Red Sea ports.
Against the backdrop of the regional conflict, Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to Washington via intermediaries when the review is over, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. Meanwhile, air strikes targeted two districts in Yemen's capital Sanaa, with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels blaming Saudi Arabia for the strikes that occurred around midnight. A spokesman for Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry said the air strikes killed one person and wounded 12 others. The expansion plans reflect a broader regional strategy to diversify energy transport routes and reduce dependence on traditional maritime corridors, with the conflict in its eighth month having damaged infrastructure and tankers across the region.
