An Israeli attack causes a fire at a refinery processing gas extracted from Iran’s South Pars gas field. (Photo by Tasnim)
Israeli attacks have caused fires in two refineries in the southern Iranian province of Bushehr, according to a report published in the local media.
The Tasnim news agency said in a Saturday report that the fires had started after two small Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) hit onshore installations responsible for processing sour gas from the South Pars gas field.
The report said the incidents caused explosions in the Fajr Jam Gas Refinery, one of the largest in Iran, and a small refinery unit in Phase 14 of the South Pars.
It said the situation in the refineries was under control, with air defense and rescue teams carrying out their duties on the scene.
There was no initial estimate about the damage caused by the explosions, the report said, adding that Iran’s Oil Ministry was investigating the incident and had yet to officially confirm it was the result of an attack.
South Pars is the world’s largest gas field, which straddles the maritime border between Iran and Qatar. It is responsible for more than 70% of Iran’s natural gas demand. The gas field has 24 active phases with a total of 13 refineries that turn sour gas into methane for injection into Iran’s nationwide pipeline network.
The attacks, if confirmed, would be Israel’s first assault on Iran’s energy infrastructure since the regime started a series of unprovoked airstrikes on Iran early Friday.
The Oil Ministry said in a statement later on Saturday that the fires in the two refineries had been controlled "in the shortest time possible".
It said staff members in the refineries were now carrying out operations to stabilize production.
Iran’s air defenses have successfully intercepted a majority of small UAVs launched by Israel in the past 24 hours, with reports suggesting that only a handful of them have passed through the defenses.
Iran has carried out hundreds of missile and UAV attacks on Israel since late Friday, inflicting heavy damage on the regime.
