In connection with the incident, Bapco, as reported by The Times of Israel, was forced to declare force majeure, allowing it to suspend supplies. The official statement indicated that the company's operations are influenced by the ongoing conflict in the region and recent attacks on its oil refining complex. However, Bapco assured that domestic demand will be fully met.
According to local agencies, no one was injured as a result of the fire, but the extent of the damage is currently being assessed. It is believed that the cause of the fire was new strikes from Iran.
The situation escalated after the conflict began between the U.S. and Israel with Iran on February 28, when Iranian forces started launching missile and drone strikes on various targets in the Middle East, including U.S. military bases and energy-related infrastructure. These attacks, along with Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil transportation, led to a sharp increase in energy prices. On Asian exchanges on March 9, the price of a barrel of oil approached $120— a level not seen since 2022.
