Oil storage tanks; village; workers repairing pipeline after commando raid in October 1969; oil on ground (LIBRARY FILM).




Initials SAW/PN/MH



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Background: The Trans-Arabia pipeline, closed since May last year when it was cut by a bulldozer in Syria, may be abandoned by Saudi Arabia who are considering exporting its oil by tanker from Saudi Ports.

The American owned pipeline had been a target for Arab commandos and in one attack was temporarily closed after a commando raid in Lebanon in October 1969.

The Saudi Government has accused the extreme leftist Syrian regime of deliberate sabotage in May. The Syrians have said the bulldozer incident but have refused to permit repair work.

Saudi Arabia has been losing about gbp90,000 (220,000 dollars) daily from pipeline royalties making it more difficult to keep up aid payments to other Arab States.

The 750-mile pipeline carries oil from Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean terminal at Zahrani in South Lebanon.

One result of the dispute is that Saudi Arabia has threatened to stop its multi-million dollar financial assistance to Egypt and Jordan if the pipeline remains closed.