Oman oil loading halted after terminal blast

Crude loading at Oman’s Mina al Fahal terminal was suspended on Friday after an explosion near its single-buoy mooring berths, disrupting operations at one of the Sultanate’s most important oil export outlets.

Two people familiar with the matter said the blast occurred between SBM 1 and SBM 2 and was believed to have followed a drone attack. The timing of the incident was not immediately clear, and there was no official confirmation of casualties, damage levels or a restart schedule for loading operations.

Mina al Fahal, located near Muscat on the Gulf of Oman, is a central outlet for Oman Export Blend crude and forms a critical part of the country’s energy infrastructure. The terminal handles crude loading through offshore mooring systems linked by subsea pipelines, allowing tankers to receive cargoes without docking at a conventional jetty. Any extended stoppage could delay cargo schedules, raise insurance concerns and sharpen market attention on Gulf export security.

The incident comes as energy traders are already watching disruptions across key shipping corridors and export hubs in West Asia. Brent crude was trading near $95 a barrel on Friday, with market sentiment shaped by uncertainty over regional security risks, oil diplomacy and supply availability. Oman’s crude is closely watched in Asia, where it is widely used in physical trade and pricing linked to the Dubai-Oman benchmark system.

Oman is not a member of OPEC but is part of the broader OPEC+ production framework. Its crude exports are heavily oriented towards Asian buyers, particularly China, and the country’s ability to maintain steady flows has long supported its position as a reliable supplier outside the Strait of Hormuz choke point. Mina al Fahal’s location gives it strategic value, though the incident shows that infrastructure beyond the narrow waterway is also exposed to regional threats.

The single-buoy mooring system is designed to support offshore tanker loading, but it also creates concentrated operational points where safety inspections are required after any blast, fire or suspected attack. Operators usually need to assess subsea pipelines, mooring integrity, floating hoses, marine exclusion zones and potential hydrocarbon leaks before restarting loadings. Even when physical damage is limited, port and energy authorities can halt operations as a precaution while naval, security and technical teams complete checks.

No group had claimed responsibility for the alleged drone attack by Friday morning. Oman has traditionally maintained a neutral diplomatic posture in regional disputes and has often served as a channel for back-door talks involving Iran, the United States and Gulf states. A direct strike or attempted strike on energy infrastructure inside Oman would therefore carry wider political significance, particularly if investigators confirm the involvement of armed groups linked to conflicts elsewhere in the region.

The Sultanate has faced growing pressure from the broader instability around the Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Earlier disruptions in regional ports and tanker movements increased scrutiny of maritime security, while shipowners and commodity traders have adjusted routes, insurance cover and cargo timing to account for heightened risk. War-risk premiums, vessel availability and inspection delays can all raise the cost of moving crude even when production itself remains unaffected.

Mina al Fahal is also linked to Oman’s domestic refining and export ecosystem. The area hosts petroleum facilities, including refinery and storage infrastructure, and has long been associated with the country’s upstream and downstream operations. A prolonged loading suspension would be more damaging than a short safety halt, especially if cargoes awaiting shipment must be rescheduled or diverted through alternative logistics.

Oman’s authorities and terminal operators are likely to face immediate questions over the status of loaded and waiting tankers, the extent of any damage to the SBM berths, and whether crude flows through pipelines feeding the terminal have been reduced. Market participants will also look for clarity on whether the suspension affects all crude loadings or only operations tied to the damaged mooring area.