Tensions are rising in the Persian Gulf region. The Iranian news agency WANA has disseminated a report stating that the world's most critical energy facilities in Arab countries and Israel are within the range of Iranian precision-guided missiles. These statements concern infrastructure that ensures a significant share of the global energy supply.
Saudi Arabia: A Threat to Global Exports
The focus has shifted to Saudi Arabia's assets, which form the backbone of the global oil industry. Specifically, the Ghawar field—the cornerstone of the kingdom's oil production—is mentioned. Any disruption to this giant could jeopardize more than 5% of the world's energy supply.
Furthermore, the Abqaiq complex could be under attack. This is the heart of the export system, responsible for stabilizing crude oil produced at the Ghawar, Khurais, and Shaybah fields before shipment to markets. Abqaiq is the only transit hub with a capacity of over 7 million barrels per day.
Experts note that damage to this facility would be a catastrophe not only for Saudi exports but also for the domestic economy. The supply chain for the petrochemical industry, domestic power plants, and critical seawater desalination plants would be disrupted.
UAE and Qatar: Gas and Oil Giants
The risk zone also extends to the United Arab Emirates. The list of vulnerable assets includes the Ruwais oil refinery and the Zakum field. The latter is the second-largest offshore oil field in the world, exporting more than 1 million barrels of crude oil daily.
Special attention is paid to Qatar, which possesses unique resources. The North Dome field is the world's largest gas field, accounting for about 25% of all proven global natural gas reserves. Also within range is the Ras Laffan port, a major global hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Approximately 20% of total global LNG trade passes through it.
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Israel
Kuwait has not been spared either. The Burgan field, the largest in the country, holds reserves estimated at approximately 67 billion barrels. This is a key asset, and if production were to cease there, Kuwait's output would drop by approximately 2 million barrels per day.
Bahrain is considered the most vulnerable in terms of energy security. Due to its heavy reliance on its own facilities, specifically the Sitra oil refinery and the Al-Maamir production facilities, the country risks a complete collapse of its energy supply in the event of an attack.
Israeli assets are also included in the list of potential targets. The Leviathan and Tamar fields are the country's largest and second-largest gas fields, respectively. They play a key role in gas extraction and domestic supply, ensuring the state's energy independence.
