Abu Dhabi suspended operations at the United Arab Emirates’ largest natural gas processing facility following an attack that sparked a fire, hours after strikes hit key energy infrastructure in Kuwait.
The Habshan gas facility stopped after authorities intercepted the incoming attack and falling debris caused the fire, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a post on X. At Habshan, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. operates the UAE’s main facility for collecting and processing gas from the emirate’s fields and distributing it for domestic use.
Iran has continued to target energy infrastructure across the region a month into the war, which began on Feb. 28 with US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic. The strikes have crippled refineries, petrochemical and liquefied natural gas facilities, and forced some of the world’s biggest oil producers to slash production.
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to traffic after Iran attacked several vessels in and around the Persian Gulf, disrupting a key export route that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil supply. That’s led oil prices to jump by about 50% to nearly $110 a barrel. The UAE has sought to maintain part of its crude exports through a pipeline running from Habshan to the emirate of Fujairah, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran warned Friday that it would strike energy infrastructure and other assets like bridges in the Gulf countries if its facilities of that kind were attacked.
Hours earlier, Kuwait’s Mina Al Ahmadi oil refinery was struck, with units in operation at the time catching fire. Authorities also said a power and water desalination plant was attacked early on Friday, causing damages to some components.
The 346,000 barrel-a-day Mina Al Ahmadi facility and the nearby 454,000 barrel-a-day Mina Abdullah refinery were forced to shut units after attacks last month.
