Satellite images show smoke near Saudi Arabia’s critical East-West oil pipeline

Recent satellite images have revealed smoke emanating near Saudi Arabia's crucial East-West oil pipeline, a vital energy asset for the nation, according to Reuters. Despite this, Saudi authorities have not yet reported any incidents at the location. The East-West Pipeline has gained significant importance for Saudi Arabia during the ongoing Iran conflict, facilitating the transportation of crude oil from the eastern coast of the kingdom to its western coast via the Red Sea.

This provides an alternative route for sending crude oil through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint. NASA's fire data indicates the presence of a massive smoke plume, stretching approximately 100 kilometers long, along with sustained thermal hotspots along the pipeline's route southeast of Medina.

These hotspots exhibited heat signatures exceeding 70 megawatts, persisting for hours at multiple points, which is notably higher than the typical levels associated with normal operations.