Saudi Arabia is planning to ramp up pipeline capacity by 40% to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, after the kingdom leaned heavily on an existing cross-country conduit to export oil during the Iran war.

As the kingdom struggles to fend off almost daily attacks on its energy and civilian infrastructure, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said it aims to boost pipeline capacity away from the Persian Gulf to 10 million barrels of crude a day within two to three years. The main cross-country conduit, crucial in helping maintain supply to market during the regional war, can currently pump as much as 7 million barrels daily.