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Saudi Arabia plans to increase overland oil transport capacity to 10000000 barrels per day, creating a backup energy transport corridor

BlockBeats news,October 12, Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman recently stated that Saudi Arabia plans, within the next to 3 years, to increase its overland oil transport capacity bypassing the Strait of Hormuz to 10000000 barrels per day, reducing its reliance on Persian Gulf shipping routes.

Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline currently connects eastern oil fields with Yanbu Port on the Red Sea coast and has a designed transport capacity of 7000000 barrels per day. As of early October, actual daily throughput on the pipeline had risen to 5800000 barrels, of which approximately 4500000 barrels were for export, with the remainder supplied to western refineries. Saudi Arabia is upgrading pressure at pumping stations along the route to further increase capacity.

In addition, Saudi Arabia plans to temporarily convert existing natural gas pipelines for crude oil transportation. Following the relevant pipeline adjustments, the lines could provide oil transport capacity of approximately 1200000 barrels per day; with further investment in pumping stations and compressors, potential capacity could increase to 3000000 barrels. Saudi Arabia is also assessing dual-purpose oil and gas pipeline network options to flexibly switch transportation uses according to geopolitical risks and seasonal demand.

This deployment aims to address disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and security risks on Red Sea routes, establishing a more resilient crude oil export system. However, overland transport capacity at the scale of tens of millions of barrels remains in the planning and construction-advancement stage; whether it can ultimately be achieved depends on pipeline network modifications and investment in supporting facilities.

Original link https://m.theblockbeats.info/flash/371402