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Iraq Oil Loadings Halt After Drone Strike Near Tanker
16 Jul
Summary
- Oil loadings were briefly suspended after a drone struck an oil tanker.
- No damage or fire resulted from the drone incident.
- Operations have resumed at normal rates following the event.
Iraq's oil loadings were temporarily halted on Thursday due to a drone incident involving an oil tanker near the Basra terminal. The drone strike did not result in any damage or fire, and operations quickly resumed at normal rates.
Officials from the state oil marketer SOMO stated that the drone's target was not the Basra Oil Terminal. The oil ministry confirmed that loadings are ongoing at Iraq's southern ports and an investigation is underway. The affected tanker was moved out of the port as a precautionary measure.
This event occurs amidst broader disruptions to oil exports, including a significant decrease in shipments via the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflicts. Iraq has been attempting to diversify its export routes, including utilizing pipelines through Turkey and exploring options through Syria.
