Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Saudi Aramco returned to loading oil at the Ras Tanura terminal, on the country’s coast to the Persian Gulf, this Friday (26).
The terminal has been paralyzed since March 8 due to the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, which began on February 28 this year, and the resulting attacks and threats from Tehran on Arab countries in the Persian Gulf and their energy infrastructures.
Maritime transport data indicates that two oil tankers are loading crude oil at the terminal, while a third is waiting near the port.
The port of Ras Tanura is the main oil loading terminal in Saudi Arabia, which is the second largest crude oil producing country in the world.
Around 10 million barrels were produced by Saudi Arabia per day in January, before the War in the Middle East, according to OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). On average, more than 80% of the crude oil exported by the Saudis is loaded at Ras Tanura.
With the blockades by Iran and the United States on ships leaving the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia had to divert exports to the port of Yanbu, on the Red Sea – and in a limited way.
* With information from Reuters
