Saudi Arabia plans to raise the East-West Pipeline's capacity to about 10 million barrels per day

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Saudi Arabia plans to raise the East-West Pipeline's capacity to about 10 million barrels per day

12 October 2026

Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on 12 October 2026, at the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, that Saudi Arabia plans to raise the capacity of its East-West Pipeline to about 10 million barrels per day. Gulf News and Asharq Al-Awsat said the target is to be reached within two to three years. The pipeline carries crude from the Eastern Province to export terminals at Yanbu on the Red Sea, an alternative to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The minister said the pipeline began under the late King Fahd in the early 1980s and was expanded to 5 million barrels per day following directives issued in the 1990s. Plans include upgrading pumping stations, transmission pipelines and associated gas infrastructure. He spoke in a ministerial session with OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, who said OPEC estimates about $18 trillion in oil and gas investment is needed through 2050.

Target capacity: about 10 million barrels per day Timeline: two to three years Earlier expansion: 5 million barrels per day Red Sea terminal: Yanbu

Why it matters for exams: Routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, such as the East-West Pipeline to Yanbu, are a key part of energy security questions.

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12 October 2026 Source: Saudi Gazette