Possible Fire Reported at Saudi Petro Rabigh Refinery
Reports have surfaced about a possible attack leading to a fire at Saudi Arabia’s Petro Rabigh refining and petrochemical complex, located north of Jeddah. Although official confirmation from Saudi authorities or Saudi Aramco is pending, multiple sources suggest that an incident has occurred at the facility.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing Yemeni sources, initially reported an attack targeting an oil refinery in the Jeddah area. So far, Tasnim appears to be the primary source for the specific attack claim, while Saudi officials remain silent on the matter. However, satellite imagery and videos circulating on social media platforms like Telegram indicate a significant fire involving a storage tank at the Rabigh complex. While the authenticity and timing of these videos have not been independently verified, recent satellite data shows elevated thermal activity in the region consistent with an ongoing fire.
Images also depict a smoke plume rising near the refinery, which aligns with reports of burning near storage infrastructure. These developments come amid renewed conflict escalation in Yemen, raising concerns about increased risks of Houthi attacks on critical Saudi energy infrastructure. The Houthi militant group has a documented history of targeting Saudi oil and energy facilities as part of the ongoing Yemen civil war.
The Petro Rabigh refinery was previously targeted in March 2022 during a coordinated assault involving drones and missile strikes on several Saudi energy assets. That wave of attacks impacted LNG facilities in Yanbu, a desalination plant in Al-Shafeeq, and an oil product terminal in Jazan.
The latest incident coincides with a recent declaration by Yemen’s internationally recognized government of a major military campaign aimed at retaking territory under Houthi control and restoring government authority. This marks a significant escalation after years of relative stalemate in the civil conflict.
Despite the potential attack and fire, global oil prices showed limited immediate reaction. On Monday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded at $90.74 per barrel, down by 0.41%, while Brent crude was priced at $102.16 per barrel, down 0.09% on the day.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have yet to issue official updates on the situation at Petro Rabigh. The developments underscore ongoing security challenges for energy infrastructure in the region and the volatile backdrop of the Yemen conflict that continues to pose risks for the global oil supply chain.
Related Stories
- SNGPL Suspends Gas Supply in Sheikhupura on Oct 1 for Maintenance
- Goldman Sachs Warns Diesel Export Ban Could Raise Gasoline Prices
- MARI profit hits record Rs87.1bn in FY26
- Pakistan’s listed refineries swing to Rs54.8bn profit in FY26
- Government Briefs Jamaat-e-Islami on Fuel Supply and Targeted Relief Measures
