Newsletters
An Iranian ballistic missile struck Bahrain's primary oil refinery on Thursday, triggering large fires at one of the Gulf nation's most critical energy facilities and marking the first direct hit on the kingdom's core petroleum infrastructure since Tehran began its retaliatory campaign across the region six days ago.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry confirmed that a facility in the Maameer industrial zone housing the refinery had been hit, stating that "the fire that broke out in one of the facilities in Maameer, which was targeted by the Iranian aggression, has been brought under control." The ministry reported limited material damage and no casualties.
Bahrain's National Communication Centre, the government's media arm, followed with its own confirmation that the blaze had erupted at a unit of the Bapco Energies refinery, the country's sole oil refining complex. "There are no reported injuries, and refinery operations continue. An assessment of the damage is currently under way," the centre said.
Videos circulating on social media showed large flames and thick black smoke billowing from the refinery complex as emergency crews worked to control the blaze.
The Bapco Energies refinery, located on the island of Sitra on Bahrain's east coast south of the capital Manama, is one of the oldest and most strategically significant energy facilities in the Persian Gulf. Founded in 1929, the Bahrain Petroleum Company discovered the first oil field on the Arabian side of the Gulf outside of Iran in 1932 and built the region's first refinery in 1936.
The facility has been undergoing a multi-billion-dollar modernization program to boost its processing capacity. Once fully operational, the upgraded refinery is expected to increase its capacity from 267,000 barrels per day to a nominal 380,000 barrels, with a maximum capability of 400,000 barrels daily. The refinery processes both domestic crude and crude supplied via pipeline from Saudi Arabia, and roughly 95 percent of its products are destined for export markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Separately, industry monitor IIR reported that Bapco had shut two crude units at the Sitrah refinery due to the ongoing conflict, in a note to clients seen by Reuters. Although Bahrain's official statements insisted operations were continuing, the unit closures suggest the facility may be operating at reduced capacity.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
