Riyadh: French energy major TotalEnergies said on Friday it has fully shut down the SATORP oil refinery on Saudi Arabia’s eastern Gulf coast after the facility sustained damage during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, AFP reported.
The closure follows a series of missile and drone strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure that have disrupted production and raised concerns about regional fuel‑supply stability.
The SATORP refinery, located in Jubail Industrial City, is a joint venture between state‑owned Saudi Aramco, which holds a 62.5% stake, and TotalEnergies, which owns the remaining 37.5%.
The French firm stated that the disruption was due to “incidents that occurred during the night of April 7 to 8, causing damage to one of the refinery’s two processing trains.” TotalEnergies added that both processing units were taken offline as a precaution while damage assessments are underway, and emphasized that “there were no casualties” in the incident.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed earlier that the kingdom had come under “multiple attacks” on oil and gas facilities, with the SATORP complex named among the affected sites.
A ministry official told the Saudi Press Agency that the attacks “disrupted several production operations at key facilities, including refineries and export terminals.”
Other targeted assets reportedly include Ras Tanura and SAMREF refineries, as well as the Riyadh refinery, prompting Riyadh to warn of potential short‑term impacts on crude output and product exports.
Authorities have linked the strikes to Iran, saying they are part of a broader escalation triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory on February 28. Saudi officials have stated that Tehran’s pushback has focused on energy and strategic infrastructure across Gulf countries, seeking to pressure Western‑aligned states economically and militarily.
The SATORP facility, which processes roughly 400,000 barrels per day, plays a key role in Saudi Arabia’s domestic and export‑oriented refining network.
