Biggest oil disruption in history? Energy hubs are up in flames in US, Russia too
India Today
Oil and gas refineries and hubs are up in flames not just in the Middle East, but also in Russia and the US. Crude oil prices have surged over $100 a barrel. With the energy infrastructure in the Middle East likely to take years to be rebuilt, the world could be set for the biggest oil disruption in history.
While addressing the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warned that the impacts of the war in the Middle East would be felt for a prolonged period, citing disruptions in India's supply of crude oil, natural gas and petrochemicals. The US–Israel–Iran conflict has sent oil prices surging, with Brent Crude trading past $100 a barrel, driven by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and tit-for-tat strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf. But it is not just the Middle East where energy infrastructure is in flames.
Alongside the Gulf escalation, Ukrainian forces struck at least two refineries and an oil-loading port in Russia as part of the ongoing war. Meanwhile, in the United States, the massive Valero refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, was shut down after explosions and fires tore through the facility.
Together, these incidents, combined with disruptions stemming from the Iran conflict, have staggered global energy markets. Oil prices, which briefly dipped 11% after Donald Trump postponed strikes on Iranian energy assets, have surged back above $100. The International Energy Agency described the situation as "the biggest oil disruption in history."
Energy infrastructure was targeted as the war in Iran, which began on February 28, escalated. Energy hubs across the Persian Gulf came under attack between March 18 and 20.
Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, triggering retaliatory strikes across the region. QatarEnergy reported "extensive damage" and "sizable fires" at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world’s largest LNG complex, following Iranian missile strikes on March 19. "Iranian aerial attacks have caused extensive damage to the world’s largest gas plant in Qatar," Reuters reported, noting production halts that could cut Qatar’s LNG export capacity by up to 17%.
Saudi Arabia’s SAMREF refinery in Yanbu, a key Red Sea export hub, was hit by a drone the same day, with damage still being assessed, according to the Saudi defence ministry. Fires also broke out at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries after drone strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, carries a significant share of the world's oil shipments, making it vital for global energy stability.
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