Saudi Arabia activates Petroline to bypass Strait of Hormuz amid regional crisis

RIYADH: In response to a severe disruption in its oil export routes, Saudi Arabia has initiated the use of a long-standing contingency plan by activating the Petroline pipeline, which transports oil across the kingdom’s desert to the Red Sea. The move comes as the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage for global oil shipments, has become nearly impassable due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to Saudi state energy company Aramco, the decision to ramp up the Petroline’s operations was discussed during an earnings call this week. The pipeline, which runs east to west across Saudi Arabia, is being utilized to move millions of gallons of oil to Red Sea ports, allowing the kingdom to continue supplying international clients despite the blockade at Hormuz.

The current crisis follows a series of Iranian attacks in retaliation for US-Israeli military actions that ignited the conflict. These attacks have targeted both US assets and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf region, severely impacting the ability of petroleum-exporting monarchies to ship oil. As a result, storage capacities are reaching their limits and oil production has been reduced due to the shipping standstill.

With the Petroline now playing a critical role, Saudi Arabia aims to mitigate the impact of the shipping paralysis and maintain its oil exports. The pipeline’s activation is part of broader efforts by Gulf states to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing regional conflict and ensure the stability of global energy supplies.