The US Energy Secretary told CNBC that he expects the Saudi oil pipeline that was attacked to be back in operation very soon, according to Israeli media.
In a CNBC interview Tuesday evening, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the Saudi oil pipeline damaged in a Houthi attack is expected to resume operations very soon, according to an Israeli media report. The optimistic assessment contrasts sharply with earlier reports that repairs to pumping stations along the East-West Pipeline could take weeks.
Earlier Tuesday at 05:38 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that oil loading at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu had been halted following the Houthi strike on the East-West Pipeline. Reuters later confirmed the halt and cited sources indicating that repairs to pumping stations would require weeks. The initial alert, sourced from Israeli media, noted the disruption at the critical export terminal. The evolution reflects a shift from a multi-week repair timeline to Washington's expectation of a rapid restart.
As The Zioneer has reported over recent months, the Persian Gulf has been gripped by severe energy disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to normal traffic, with oil tankers transiting only under US Navy escort. The Houthi strike on Saudi infrastructure adds a direct threat to Red Sea export capacity, compounding the broader crisis.
The timeline for actual resumption remains unclear. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the US assessment, and the extent of damage to the pipeline and pumping stations has not been disclosed. The Energy Secretary's statement, while notable, is the first official US estimate since the attack, and operational restoration will depend on on-the-ground repairs.
3 developments
- DevelopingUS State Department: Iraq, Syria sign agreement to restore oil pipeline
- StrongUS Energy Secretary acknowledges Iran has not reopened Hormuz; oil tankers rely on US Navy
- StrongSaudi Arabia says strike retaliates for drone attacks on oil facilities, warns of response to any aggression
- ConfirmedRubio: Saudi Arabia seeks 'peaceful, civil nuclear programme'
Source and signal
- Open-source intake