The terrorist attack that caused a fire to break out in a fuel tank at a petroleum products distribution station in the north of Jeddah city in Saudi Arabia, 'is a cowardly act against a key installation that helps distribute vital energy needs,' the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Tuesday.
An official from the Energy Ministry confirmed on Monday that a blast caused a fire in a fuel tank at a distribution station for petroleum products operated by Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, according to official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Earlier in the day, the Houthi rebel group's spokesman, Yahya Saree, said his group targeted the distribution station with a rocket.
'Acts of sabotage such as this are detrimental to energy supply security for both producers and consumers and can lead to much uncertainty and volatility,' OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, was quoted as saying in the statement.
'We were extremely pleased to hear that firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly and there were no reports of injuries or casualties,' he added.
Lauding state-owned Saudi Aramco's 'swift response', Barkindo said supply chains were not affected by the attack, causing no meaningful impact on the market.
OPEC also recalled the recent incident near a floating platform for an oil distribution station in Jizan, and the September 2019 terrorist attack on oil installations in Abqaiq and Khurais, 'which were again focused on cutting off energy supplies and creating instability on oil markets, as well as the global economy.'
'The Organization stands against any acts of terror and sabotage, and is firmly committed to market stability and remaining a dependable, reliable source of supply for its customers worldwide,' the cartel stressed.
On Sept. 14 last year, a fire erupted in two facilities of Saudi Arabia's oil company Aramco following strikes by armed drones. A day later, Saudi Arabia announced the temporary halt of oil production from its two oil facilities run by Aramco.
By Sibel Morrow
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr