Bahrain’s state-owned oil firm Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) declared force majeure on its oil shipments on Monday after anIranian striketriggered a major fire at one of the country’skey energy facilities, heightening tensions in the Gulf’s critical oil corridor. According to Bahrain News Agency, the move allows the company to temporarily suspend contractual delivery obligations due to extraordinary circumstances. Despite the disruption, Bapco said fuel supplies for the domestic market remain secure and will continue without interruption, supported by emergency contingency plans.
The decision followed an attack on the Al‑Ma’ameer oil facility, a major refinery complex in Bahrain. The strike sparked a large blaze and caused material damage to parts of the installation. Authorities said emergency crews were quickly deployed to contain the fire and assess the situation.
In a statement shared on X, the Bahrain News Agency said the blaze was caused by “Iranian aggression targeting a facility in Al-Ma’ameer,” adding that while the attack resulted in structural damage, no casualties were reported. Firefighting teams and other emergency services were immediately dispatched to bring the situation under control.
“Outbreak of a fire due to the Iranian aggression targeting a facility in Al Ma’ameer, with material damage reported but no casualties recorded, and the competent authorities have begun firefighting procedures,” Bahrain News Agency said in a post on X.
The incident is the latest escalation in a broader regional confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, with energy infrastructure across the Gulf increasingly becoming a target.
Meanwhile, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway linking the Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil, has slowed dramatically as Iran tightens its control over the route. Tanker traffic has nearly stalled, raising concerns about global energy supply.
The growing instability has already jolted oil markets. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, climbed above $114 per barrel on Monday, about 60% higher than levels recorded when Israel and the United States first launched military strikes on Iran.
Megha Rawat is an Assistant News Editor at Times Now, where she drives the national news narrative with sharp political reporting, election coverage a...View More
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