Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said on Tuesday that preliminary engineering had already started on a planned expansion of the kingdom's vital East-West pipeline as part of plans to increase oil flows through existing infrastructure, assess alternative export routes and explore expanding crude storage capacity at major demand centers.
"Preliminary engineering is underway for an expansion of the East-West pipeline," Nasser said in an earnings call. The CEO said last month that Aramco hoped to increase the capacity of the pipeline network from 7 million to 10 million barrels a day.
Aramco reported a 9% year-on-year increase in adjusted net profit to 117 billion riyals ($31.2 billion) in the third quarter of this year, beating analysts’ expectations of $30.66 billion.
Nasser said the pipeline played a key role in providing additional oil export options during the disruptions, adding that the company was also considering expanding crude oil storage capacity at major demand centers and along export routes.
He said the long-term value of the East-West Pipeline investment had become evident amid the current disruptions to regional trade, noting that the company had recovered the pipeline’s entire construction cost in about 15 days.
Production Capacity
Nasser said Aramco was exploring additional oil export routes and storage capacity outside the Kingdom, while using Gulf export terminals and ship-to-ship transfers to deliver supplies to customers.
He added that the company could raise its maximum sustainable production capacity above 12 million barrels per day if the government decides to do so.
Biggest Supply Shock in the Energy Industry
He described the regional conflict as the biggest supply shock in the energy industry, saying Aramco maintained customer commitments by diversifying export routes, restoring facilities and optimizing operations.
The company’s resilience, he said, stemmed from decades of planning, robust infrastructure, skilled employees, local supply chains and technological innovation, enabling it to continue delivering major projects safely and on schedule despite disruptions.
Zuluf Field Production Expansion
The CEO said work to expand production at the Zuluf field had begun as planned, with additional capacity of up to 600,000 barrels per day expected by the end of the year. He added that Aramco was continuing to advance major crude-to-chemicals projects both inside and outside the Kingdom.
He said the upstream segment delivered stable results, reflecting continued price strength despite a decline from the previous quarter. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the downstream segment rose by more than $4 billion quarter on quarter.
Ability to Restore Production Within Weeks
Nasser said supplies had become indispensable, and demand remained strong, adding that Aramco could rapidly ramp up production. This capability positioned the company to generate significant financial gains.
More Than 90% of Restart Materials Sourced Locally
Aramco faced significant challenges during the disruptions but managed them through flexibility, speed, multiple options and operational excellence, he stated.
He explained that the company’s integrated response center coordinates management teams with specialized, multidisciplinary rapid-assessment teams, enabling a swift response to incidents and disruptions.
Nasser said Aramco’s local supply chains enabled the rapid sourcing and rerouting of critical materials to ensure operational continuity. The company also uses drones for real-time damage assessments, with more than 90% of restart materials sourced domestically. Independent benchmarks show Aramco completes emergency repairs six times faster than the industry average.
Capital Expenditure
Aramco remained disciplined in its capital spending, maintaining its 2026 capital expenditure guidance at $50 billion-$55 billion, Nasser undescored. The forecast includes costs to restore assets to service and a $2.6 billion cash investment in HUMAIN.
Aramco Invests $2.6 Billion in HUMAIN
He described Aramco’s 49% stake in HUMAIN, backed by a $2.6 billion cash investment and the transfer of key AI assets, as a strategic move to strengthen its competitive advantage and accelerate AI-driven growth.
The investment combines Aramco’s technology infrastructure, more than 90 years of operational experience and low-cost, lower-carbon energy to meet growing demand for AI computing.
HUMAIN aims to develop an integrated AI platform spanning data centers, cloud infrastructure, models and applications, with plans to reach 3 gigawatts of data center capacity by 2030 and become a leading global exporter of AI services.
