RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s oil giant, Aramco, has temporarily closed its Ras Tanura refinery following a drone strike, an industry source confirmed Monday.
The closure comes after Tehran carried out a series of strikes across the region in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
Located on Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, the Ras Tanura complex is home to one of the region’s largest refineries, with a processing capacity of 550,000 barrels per day, and functions as a major export terminal for Saudi crude.
According to Reuters, the shutdown was precautionary, and authorities have stated that the situation is currently under control. Aramco has yet to issue an official comment.
The drone assault is part of a broader wave of attacks affecting Gulf countries, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama, and the commercial port of Duqm in Oman.
The incidents have disrupted key shipping centers in the UAE and Oman, driving Brent crude futures up roughly 10% on Monday.
