Drone hit sparks fire at major ADNOC refinery in Middle East, unit shut ‘as precaution’

The Ruwais complex hosts major facilities operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), including refineries capable of processing up to 922000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The violence in the Middle East intensified on Tuesday as fire broke out at a facility within the Ruwais industrial complex in Abu Dhabi following a suspected drone strike, prompting state oil giant ADNOC to shut down its refinery as a precaution, Reuters reported quoting a source familiar with the matter.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi confirmed that they were responding to a fire at the facility after a drone attack. The emirate’s government media office said emergency teams were quickly deployed and no injuries were reported, though officials did not specify the facility within the complex that was affected.

The Ruwais complex hosts major facilities operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), including refineries capable of processing up to 922000 barrels of crude oil per day. The site serves as the central hub for Abu Dhabi’s downstream energy operations, encompassing large chemical, fertiliser and industrial gas plants.

A source told Reuters that the refinery was temporarily shut as a precautionary measure while safety assessments are carried out. other operations at the sprawling industrial complex are continuing normally.

Attacks on oil infrastructure across the Middle East have intensified in recent days. On March 2nd, the Ras Tanura Refinery, one of the world’s largest refineries operated by Saudi Aramco was targeted by two drones. Saudi air defenses intercepted the drones and no injuries were reported, though falling debris sparked a small fire at the facility.

In Bahrain, the Bapco Refinery was struck by a missile on March 5, hitting a unit of the state-run refinery complex. Thick smoke was again reported rising from the direction of the refinery on March 9. A witness quoted by Reuters said smoke surrounded the facility after the government reported injuries and damage in the Sitra area following an Iranian drone attack. Operated by Bahrain Petroleum Company, the refinery is the country’s main oil-processing facility and a critical part of its energy sector.

Meanwhile, on March 8 and 9, Israeli airstrikes hit several oil storage facilities and refinery-linked depots in and around Tehran, targeting energy infrastructure near the Iranian capital.

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The violence in the Middle East intensified on Tuesday as fire broke out at a facility within the Ruwais industrial complex in Abu Dhabi following a suspected drone strike, prompting state oil giant ADNOC to shut down its refinery as a precaution, Reuters reported quoting a source familiar with the matter.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi confirmed that they were responding to a fire at the facility after a drone attack. The emirate’s government media office said emergency teams were quickly deployed and no injuries were reported, though officials did not specify the facility within the complex that was affected.

The Ruwais complex hosts major facilities operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), including refineries capable of processing up to 922000 barrels of crude oil per day. The site serves as the central hub for Abu Dhabi’s downstream energy operations, encompassing large chemical, fertiliser and industrial gas plants.

A source told Reuters that the refinery was temporarily shut as a precautionary measure while safety assessments are carried out. other operations at the sprawling industrial complex are continuing normally.

Attacks on oil infrastructure across the Middle East have intensified in recent days. On March 2nd, the Ras Tanura Refinery, one of the world’s largest refineries operated by Saudi Aramco was targeted by two drones. Saudi air defenses intercepted the drones and no injuries were reported, though falling debris sparked a small fire at the facility.

In Bahrain, the Bapco Refinery was struck by a missile on March 5, hitting a unit of the state-run refinery complex. Thick smoke was again reported rising from the direction of the refinery on March 9. A witness quoted by Reuters said smoke surrounded the facility after the government reported injuries and damage in the Sitra area following an Iranian drone attack. Operated by Bahrain Petroleum Company, the refinery is the country’s main oil-processing facility and a critical part of its energy sector.

Meanwhile, on March 8 and 9, Israeli airstrikes hit several oil storage facilities and refinery-linked depots in and around Tehran, targeting energy infrastructure near the Iranian capital.