May 22, Kathmandu – A recent explosion has occurred at Oman’s main oil terminal. The blast is reported to have been caused by a drone attack near the Single-Buoy Mooring (SBM) berth. The exact timing of the attack has not been confirmed. Shipping data from LSEG indicates that numerous supertankers had been anchored near the port area for an extended period on Friday.
According to Reuters, following the explosion, Oman has temporarily suspended crude oil loading at its key “Mina al Fahal” oil terminal. The report states that the explosion took place between the SBM-1 and SBM-2 berths, and sources have characterized it as a drone attack. However, the Omani government has yet to provide any official comment regarding the incident or any resulting damage. Reuters also noted that, due to the terminal being outside of regular office hours, immediate contact with the facility could not be established.
On Wednesday, Iranian state media reported that Tehran targeted a US military vessel heading toward Iranian waters in the Gulf of Oman, claiming the ship housed a “control and command center.” The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied these claims.
