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Bahrain's state-owned energy company BAPCO declared force majeure on Monday after Iranian drone strikes hit its oil refinery complex in Al Ma'ameer, setting off a large fire and damaging parts of the Gulf's oldest oil facility.
Videos widely shared on social media and geolocated by CNN showed a large fire and thick smoke billowing from the industrial zone housing the BAPCO refinery in Riffa on Monday morning.
"Outbreak of a fire due to the Iranian aggression targeting a facility in Al Ma'ameer, with material damage reported but no casualties recorded, and the competent authorities have begun firefighting procedures," Bahrain News Agency reported.
The BAPCO refinery produces over 350,000 barrels per day and is Bahrain's main oil facility and a key pillar of the country's energy sector.
BAPCO announced it was invoking force majeure on its group operations. "Bapco hereby serves notice of force majeure on its group operations which have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex," the company said in a statement.
Force majeure frees parties from liability if failure to meet supply obligations results from events beyond their control.
Bahrain became the latest Gulf state to invoke the clause after Qatar declared force majeure on its LNG operations last week following an Iranian drone strike on its Ras Laffan plant.
Qatar's energy minister warned at the time that all Gulf exporters would be forced to follow suit within days and predicted oil could reach $150 a barrel.
The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 1,300 civilians.
Iran has retaliated with sweeping barrages across the region. At least seven U.S. service members have been killed.
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