Aramco CEO Says East-West Pipeline Capacity Could Reach 10 Million Barrels a Day

By Saleh al-Batati and Farhan Rafid

Saudi Aramco is working to increase the capacity of its East-West oil pipeline network to 10 million barrels a day as the kingdom seeks to strengthen alternative export routes amid disruptions to Middle East energy supplies, Chief Executive Amin Nasser said.

Nasser in an interview aired Thursday on Al Arabiya Business said the company is conducting engineering studies for additional crude-export routes as it works to reduce its exposure to disruptions along major shipping corridors.

The East-West pipeline, which connects Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, has a capacity of around 7 million barrels a day, including roughly 2 million barrels for domestic refineries.

Nasser said Aramco currently has three main export routes through the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Sidi Kerir on Egypt's Mediterranean coast.

The East-West network has played a critical role in maintaining Saudi exports since the Middle East war began in February. The pipeline resumed transporting crude for export in September after repairs following drone attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Nasser said the pipeline had helped prevent oil prices from climbing even further during the conflict, while warning that global inventories remain below required levels. He estimated that the crisis has resulted in the loss of around 3 billion barrels of oil supply.

Middle East oil shipments have recently recovered above prewar levels. Flows through the Strait of Hormuz and alternative export routes averaged more than 24 million barrels a day in the week through Oct. 18, above the prewar level of 23.3 million barrels a day, according to Kpler.

Nasser also expects global oil demand to increase by around 3 million barrels a day after the crisis ends, reflecting a recovery in consumption and efforts to replenish depleted inventories.

Separately, Aramco is targeting an 80% increase in gas production capacity by 2030 from 2021 levels. Nasser said the company is developing its third gas network and studying a fourth, while potential gas exports would depend on meeting Saudi Arabia's domestic requirements.

The company is also targeting between $2 billion and $4 billion in annual revenue from technology, he said.

Write to Farhan Rafid at farhan.rafid@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 22, 2026 05:02 ET (09:02 GMT)