Halted rush in oil prices
Photo: Eric Gay/AP/TT

Halted rush in oil prices after Middle East unrest as refinery halts production and a tanker was hit

Oil prices are rising sharply, as expected, following unrest in the Middle East in recent days. However, the price surge has slowed. A major refinery has halted operations, and a tanker has been hit.

Global oil prices are soaring, but the rise was halted at the $80 mark. At lunchtime, the price of a barrel of North Sea oil was $78.30, compared with just over $70 on Friday.

The unrest that began with Saturday's attack on Iran is taking place in some of the world's largest oil-producing countries. Gas and oil supplies from the region have already been affected by major disruptions, including tankers queuing outside the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Sources told Bloomberg that Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery has halted production after a drone attack. There were also reports that an oil tanker was hit off the coast of Oman. One person is reported to have died, and an explosion occurred in the engine room.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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