Riyadh (TDI): Energy infrastructure across the Middle East faced widespread disruption on Monday as escalating US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions forced the shutdown of key oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Israel, heightening fears of a regional supply shock.
In Saudi Arabia, the country’s largest domestic refinery at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura complex was shut as a precaution after a drone attack, a source familiar with the matter said. The 550,000-barrels-per-day refinery forms part of a strategic energy hub on the kingdom’s Gulf coast and also serves as a critical export terminal for Saudi crude.
Saudi authorities said the situation was under control. Two drones were intercepted at Ras Tanura, with falling debris causing a limited fire, according to the defence ministry. No injuries were reported, and officials said fuel supplies to the domestic market were not affected, though some refinery units were temporarily taken offline, according to Reuters.
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The ripple effects extended north to Iraqi Kurdistan, where most oil production was suspended as a precaution. The region exported around 200,000 barrels per day in February via a pipeline to Ceyhan.
Operators including DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas and HKN Energy halted output at their fields, industry sources said, adding that no damage to facilities had been reported so far.
Offshore Israel, energy production was also curtailed. The giant Leviathan gas field, operated by Chevron, was shut over the weekend, according to sources. Separately, Energean suspended operations at its production vessel serving smaller gas fields.
The shutdowns have reduced gas exports to Egypt, adding to concerns over regional energy security.
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The supply disruptions come as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for about 20% of global oil consumption, slowed to a near standstill after attacks on vessels around the waterway on Sunday.
Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude futures surging around 10% on Monday to above $82 a barrel.
