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Saudi TV channel: Fire at Aramco facility, no cause given

Saudi-owned satellite channel reported an explosion at the state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco facility in kingdom’s east; offers no immediate cause, the Associated Press reports Friday night. Above: A Saudi man walks past a “Vision 2030” display at a stand about Saudi Arabia during the World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019. Amin Nasser, the chairman and CEO of the state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco, told journalists Tuesday a planned initial public offering of a sliver of the company’s worth would happen “very soon.” “Vision 2030” is an ambitious plan by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that includes the IPO of a small part of Saudi Aramco to help fund its efforts. (Jon Gambrell / Associated Press)
By Jon Gambrell Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – An explosion and fire has struck a major Saudi Aramco oil processing facility in the kingdom’s east, a Saudi-owned satellite channel reported Saturday, without offering a cause for the blast.

Online videos apparently from Buqyaq, which is near Dammam in the kingdom’s Eastern Province, included the sound of gunfire in the background. Smoke rose over the skyline and glowing flames could be seen a distance away.

State media in Saudi Arabia did not immediately report on the incident. Requests for comment sent to Aramco and officials in the kingdom were not immediately acknowledged.

The Dubai-based satellite channel Al-Arabiya first acknowledged the blaze, citing its own correspondent in the area. The channel said the blaze had been brought under control, without elaborating or offering a cause.

Saudi Aramco describes its Abqaiq oil processing facility there as “the largest crude oil stabilization plant in the world.”

The facility processes sour crude oil into sweet crude, then later transports onto transshipment points on the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Estimates suggest it can process up to 7 million barrels of crude oil a day.

The plant has been targeted in the past by militants. Al-Qaida-claimed suicide bombers tried but failed to attack the oil complex in February 2006.

There was no immediate impact on global oil prices as markets were closed for the weekend across the world. Benchmark Brent crude had been trading at just above $60 a barrel.

Buqyaq is about 205 miles northeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.