Saudi Arabia says operations halted at several energy facilities after attacks

Saudi Arabia said Thursday operations were halted at several energy facilities in the kingdom after a recent wave of attacks.

The state news agency SPA, citing an official source in the Energy Ministry, said multiple attacks targeted vital energy facilities in the kingdom, including oil and gas production, transportation, and refining facilities, and petrochemical and electricity plants in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City.

A Saudi citizen working for the Saudi Energy Company was killed and seven others were injured in the attacks, which also disrupted several operational processes at key power facilities, the source said.

One of the attacks targeted a pumping station on the vital East-West pipeline, causing the loss of approximately 700,000 barrels per day of pumped volume through the pipeline, a main route for supplying global markets, the source said.

Another attack hit the Manifa production plant, causing its production capacity to decrease by around 300,000 barrels per day, he added.

According to SPA, the Khurais plant, northeast of Riyadh, was also targeted, resulting in a drop in its production capacity by 300,000 barrels per day, causing a decrease in the Kingdom's total production capacity by 600,000 barrels per day.

The source said the attacks also targeted major refining facilities, including SATORP's facilities in Jubail, Ras Tanura refinery, SAMREF refinery in Yanbu, and Riyadh refinery, directly impacting exports of refined products to global markets.

“Processing facilities in Al Ju'aymah were also targeted by fires, affecting exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas liquids,” the source added.

The source warned that these attacks would lead to supply shortages and slow the pace of recovery, impacting the security of supplies for dependent countries and contributing to increased volatility in oil markets.

“This has negatively affected the global economy, particularly as a significant portion of global operational and emergency reserves have been depleted, impacting the availability of reserves,” the source added.

The source did not specify when exactly these attacks took place.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 3,000 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Iran has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.