Drone Strikes Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura Refinery, Ministry Of Energy Confirms

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) [Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid Israeli, US strikes on Iran for the latest regional developments.]

Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco has shut down its Ras Tanura refinery as a precautionary measure after it was hit by a drone, an industry source told Reuters on Monday, adding that the situation was under control.

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The Saudi Ministry of Energy has confirmed that a limited fire at Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery is now under control. Officials emphasised that the incident has had no impact on oil production or supply, and all safety measures were promptly implemented to contain the fire. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure the refinery operates safely and efficiently.

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The Ras Tanura complex, on the kingdom's Gulf coast, houses one of the Middle East's largest refineries with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) and serves as a critical export terminal for Saudi crude.

It was shut as a precautionary measure and the situation is under control, the source said. Aramco did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The drone strike added to a wave of attacks on the Gulf, including on Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama and Oman's commercial part of Duqm. The strikes have paralysed major shipping hubs in the United Arab Emirates and Oman and sent Brent crude futures surging roughly 10% on Monday.

Saudi Arabia's heavily fortified energy facilities have been targeted previously, most notably in September 2019 when unprecedented drone and missile attacks on the Abqaiq and Khurais plants temporarily knocked out more than half of the kingdom's crude production and roiled global markets.

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