Rosneft’s Saratov oil refinery has suspended operations following a drone attack
Rosneft’s Saratov oil refinery suspended oil processing from 8 July due to damage and subsequent fires that broke out on the site following a drone attack. Two industry sources told Reuters this.
According to them, the plant’s sole primary oil refining unit, AVT 6, with a nominal capacity of 20,000 tonnes per day, has been shut down. Reuters’ sources claim that it may take between one and two weeks to restore it to operation.
Furthermore, according to the agency, the refinery – which has an annual capacity of 7 million tonnes – has suspended sales of petroleum products on the St Petersburg Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange since Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the Saratov Oil Refinery processed 5.8 million tonnes of crude oil in 2024. The plant produced 1.2 million tonnes of motor petrol, 1.9 million tonnes of diesel fuel and 1 million tonnes of fuel oil.
The agency also notes that on 31 May this year, the refinery had already come under attack from drones and temporarily suspended operations. According to Reuters sources, following a brief shutdown, the refinery resumed operations in the second half of June.
The Saratov Oil Refinery has become the third Russian oil refinery to suspend production this month. On 6 July, Gazprom Neft’s Omsk Oil Refinery halted oil refining, whilst Lukoil’s Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery has been out of operation since 2 July.
