Saudi Arabia Restores Key Oil Pipeline to Full Capacity After Attacks

Saudi Arabia has successfully restored its critical East-West oil pipeline to full operational capacity, enabling the pumping of approximately seven million barrels of oil per day. The Ministry of Energy announced this recovery on Sunday, following repair work necessitated by recent attacks that had significantly curtailed output. The ministry highlighted the rapid restoration as evidence of Saudi Aramco's operational resilience and the efficiency of the kingdom's crisis management systems, aiming to reassure global markets amidst heightened geopolitical tensions. In addition to the pipeline, production at the Manifa oilfield has returned to its full capacity of 300,000 barrels per day after sustaining damage. However, efforts continue to restore output at the inland Khurais oilfield, which lost 300,000 barrels per day in capacity. These developments occur against a backdrop of disrupted global energy supplies due to Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has driven up energy prices worldwide. Although a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is in place, shipping traffic through the strait remains severely restricted, with only minimal vessel transits recorded since the truce began.