ADNOC restores giant Ruwais refinery after Iran strike

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has restored its giant Ruwais refinery to full operating capacity following an Iranian drone strike that shut the facility in March, according to people familiar with the matter. The restart of the world's fourth-largest single-site refinery, capable of processing 922,000 barrels of crude per day, offers a measure of relief to global fuel markets battered by months of conflict-related disruptions.oilprice+1

A Critical Return for Fuel Supply

The Ruwais complex was halted after an Iranian drone attack caused a fire at the facility earlier this year, part of a broader wave of strikes on UAE infrastructure during the regional conflict. Operations had already been running at reduced rates due to disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.cryptobriefing+1

ADNOC has been ramping up exports of diesel and jet fuel, with product shipments recovering to roughly 70% of pre-war levels, according to Bloomberg reporting. Before the conflict, the refinery was shipping approximately 600,000 barrels per day of refined products, including diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha, according to cargo-tracking firm Vortexa. Europe, which depends on Ruwais for diesel supplies, stands to benefit from the restart.oilprice+1

Refining Squeeze Deepens Elsewhere

The recovery comes against a backdrop of persistent strain on global refining capacity. Estimates from Kpler put global refinery runs at roughly 80 million barrels per day for 2026, about 3 million barrels per day below 2025 averages. Unplanned outages reached 3.51 million barrels per day in April alone due to Middle East conflict damage, according to Industrial Info Resources.kpler+1

Adding to the pressure, Ukraine struck the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in Yaroslavl, one of Russia's largest, on August 28, sparking fires across the complex. The Moscow Times reported that one civilian was killed and 27 others were injured in the attack. The refinery subsequently shut two of its three crude distillation units, according to industry reports. The facility processes roughly 15 million tonnes of oil annually and supplies fuel, lubricants, and other products to the Russian military, according to Ukraine's General Staff.newsquawk+2

Partial Relief, Not a Solution

Kuwait's Mina Al Zour refinery has also been increasing output, broadening the recovery in Middle Eastern refining activity. Yet the cumulative toll of the conflict remains deep. Global refinery runs in June were still 6 million barrels per day below the prior year, according to the Middle East Monitor, and diesel margins have climbed to their highest levels in more than 15 years.middleeastmonitor+1

With Ruwais producing more than 40 million tonnes of refined products annually, its return represents the single largest addition to supply since the war began — but one that only partially offsets the cascading outages that continue to reshape global energy flows.