U.S. to help Saudi Arabia protect its oil

RIYADH


Saudi Arabia pumps over a tenth of global oil output and severe damage to its infrastructure would have far-reaching effects. Al Qaeda has vowed more strikes on oil facilities after a failed attack on the world’s largest oil processing plant at Abqaiq in February 2006.

“The United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to cooperate in safeguarding the kingdom’s energy resources by protecting key infrastructure, enhancing Saudi border security, and meeting Saudi Arabia’s expanding energy needs in an environmentally responsible manner,” a White House statement said.

The kingdom is the keeper of most of the world’s spare oil capacity, a reserve crucial to the global energy system to deal with any surprise supply disruption.

Reuters