Drone Strike Halts Operations at Giant Saudi Oil Refinery
RIYADH — Operations at the Ras Tanura crude oil refinery belonging to Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia have been temporarily halted following a drone attack in the area. According to Bloomberg on Monday (2 March 2026), the information was confirmed by several sources aware of the situation. However, to date the company owned by the Kingdom has made no official public announcement.
Ras Tanura is one of the world’s largest oil processing facilities. Located on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, the facility has a processing capacity of up to 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The closure was implemented on Monday (2 March 2026) local time as a precautionary measure whilst the company conducted an assessment of potential damage from the attack.
According to Bloomberg, sources speaking on condition of anonymity reported that a fire had broken out in the vicinity of the location. However, the flames were brought under control.
To date, Aramco’s media office has yet to provide official comment. The Saudi Arabian government has also not responded to requests for clarification regarding the incident.
The operational shutdown at Ras Tanura occurs amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Tensions escalated following US and Israeli military strikes against Iran over the weekend. Tehran subsequently retaliated by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at several countries in the region.
The impact of the conflict was immediately felt in global energy markets. Crude oil prices in London surged by as much as 9.7 percent amid concerns over supply stability. An attack on major energy infrastructure is regarded as a worst-case scenario for the oil market, particularly given that critical maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been reported to have nearly ground to a halt due to the conflict escalation.
Ras Tanura has served as a vital node in the global energy supply chain. Operational disruptions at the facility have the potential to worsen market uncertainty and drive oil price volatility in the coming period.