Saudi Arabia's biggest refinery, Ras Tanura, is being readied for start-up after it was shut around a week ago following an Iranian drone strike, state-controlled Aramco's chief executive Amin Nasser said on Tuesday.
The 550,000 b/d Ras Tanura refinery was targeted by Iranian drones twice in three days ꟷ once on 2 March, and then on 4 March. The refinery was taken offline after the first attack, as "a precautionary measure", Nasser said.
The energy ministry at the time said the facility had sustained "limited damage" after "debris from the interception of two drones in the vicinity" fell on it. Supply of products to markets was unaffected, it said.
"We have a clear procedure to ensure safe operation, and we are in the process of starting it back up," Nasser said today. He did not say how soon it would be back online.
Ras Tanura accounts for around 16pc of Saudi Arabia's 3.4mn b/d of crude refining capacity.
