Saudi Aramco Shuts Down Jizan Refinery After Yemeni Strike
Saudi Aramco has shut down its Jizan oil refinery following a Yemeni operation targeting Saudi energy infrastructure, according to Reuters, marking one of the most significant disruptions to the Kingdom’s refining sector since the latest escalation.
Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that the attack damaged the refinery’s integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) complex and the oil storage tank area, forcing Aramco to suspend operations at the facility.
The Jizan refinery has a processing capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, with Reuters reporting that repair work is underway and preliminary operations are expected to resume by August 15.
The refinery closure follows the Yemeni Armed Forces’ announcement that they had carried out drone strikes against strategic oil facilities linked to the transport and export of Saudi crude, considering the operation a response to continued Saudi attacks on Yemen’s Hodeidah province and the ongoing blockade.
The latest escalation places Saudi Aramco and the Kingdom’s energy sector at the center of the confrontation, with Yemeni officials and analysts warning that attacks on vital oil facilities could expose vulnerabilities in one of the world’s largest energy companies.
Aramco, a key pillar of the Saudi economy and global oil markets, relies on extensive production, refining, storage, and export networks that have previously faced security threats.