Oman Oil Terminal Blast
Explosion Reported Near Oman's Key Oil Export Terminal, Raising Regional Supply Concerns
Anonymous
An explosion near the offshore mooring buoys at Oman’s Mina al Fahal crude export terminal sparked speculation about a possible drone attack and raised concerns about potential supply disruptions. Petroleum Development Oman said operations and crude loading were continuing normally and that exports from the key facility were unaffected while authorities investigated the blast near the SBM berths. Earlier reporting cited by Reuters said crude loading had been temporarily halted after the incident, with shipping data showing multiple supertankers anchored offshore near the terminal. Traders later told Bloomberg that some scheduled loadings were postponed by several days. The episode underscores the vulnerability of offshore loading infrastructure amid wider Gulf instability, including renewed Israel-Hezbollah exchanges and heightened regional tensions that have prompted renewed security warnings for people in the area. Omani authorities have not confirmed what caused the explosion or identified any perpetrators.
Key Points
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Reuters reported that the incident occurred close to the terminal’s single-buoy mooring units “SBM 1 and 2,” and that the terminal typically processes an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day—underscoring how a disruption could quickly affect export volumes even offshore.
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Analysts quoted by Arab News/“two sources familiar with the situation” indicated the blast was in the specific area “between the terminal’s Single-Buoy Mooring Berth 1 and Berth 2,” with early reporting suggesting a drone strike though Oman had not confirmed attribution at that time.
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In the broader regional context preceding the blast, Reuters earlier notes that Iranian state media claimed Tehran had targeted a “US military vessel” operating in the area, allegations that were denied by US Central Command.
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Bloomberg-cited reporting added that loadings scheduled prior to the incident were “preliminarily postponed by several days,” and also pointed to a March attack on the same terminal that had led vessels to evacuate as a precaution before the port reopened after several hours.
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