The Ruwais refinery in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the largest in the world, suspended its production on Tuesday following a drone attack in the area, according to a source close to the case, amid concerns from the Persian Gulf oil monarchies.
Iran retaliates in the war launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel, targeting American interests in the region, but also civil infrastructures – energy and port facilities.
The Ruwais facility – operated by the national company Adnoc – was forced to interrupt its activity as a “precaution,” a source close to the case told AFP, writes News.
Authorities had previously announced a fire in the industrial area, without specifying exactly where.
“As we were about to leave, we saw flames rising from the complex and heard loud noises resembling explosions,” said a driver, who came to pick up the evacuated staff from the refinery, under the protection of anonymity.
On the 11th day of the War in the Middle East, the boss of the Saudi hydrocarbon giant Aramco, Amin Nasser, expressed his concern, on the occasion of the publication on Tuesday of the group’s annual results.
He insisted on a resumption of maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz – de facto controlled by the Iranian power – transited by a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production.