The energy crisis opened by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz adds a new front. Saudi Arabia closed the East-West pipeline on Friday night, as a "precautionary measure", the infrastructure that allowed it to export part of its oil to the Red Sea and avoid passage through the Persian Gulf.
The decision comes after a new escalation in Yemen. The Houthis took the port of Mocha on Thursday and subsequently the island of Mayun, two strategic positions to control the southern access to the Red Sea through the Bab el Mandeb strait.
The combination of both events increases pressure on the global hydrocarbon supply. With Hormuz closed and security now deteriorating in the Red Sea, the two major maritime routes connecting Gulf producers to international markets are simultaneously facing strong tensions.
About 3.5 million barrels per day were seeking exit through the Red Sea
The closure of the pipeline is particularly important for Saudi Arabia. The East-West infrastructure, over 1,000 kilometers long, connects the producing areas in the east of the country with Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast.
Riyadh was channeling through this route about 3.5 million barrels per day, equivalent to just over a third of its output and approximately half of its exports, according to available information.
The system had allowed Saudi Arabia to face the Hormuz blockade under better conditions than other Gulf producers. Once transported to Yanbu, the crude could be loaded onto tankers without passing through the strait.
This alternative is now compromised. Saudi Arabia has opted to close the pipeline preventively due to the deterioration of security in the area.
It is not confirmed to what extent the latest Houthi operations have approached the infrastructure. The information provided indicates that satellite images showed smoke near the end of the pipeline, while CNN, citing U.S. military sources, reported on the impact of drones coming from Iraq on the pipeline.
The Houthis advance towards Bab el Mandeb
The second focus is on Bab el Mandeb, the strait that separates Yemen from the Horn of Africa and connects the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea. Its importance also lies in the fact that it constitutes the southern gateway to the route leading to the Suez Canal.
The capture of Moca and Mayun reinforces the position of the Houthis in this enclave. For the moment, however, Bab el Mandeb is not closed, a relevant distinction given the impact that an effective interruption of navigation would have.
A Houthi spokesperson stated this Thursday that navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el Mandeb continued to be "safe and normal" for ships, with the exception of the Saudis subjected to their restrictions.
The threat, therefore, lies in the possibility that the deterioration of security further reduces maritime traffic even without a formal closure.