MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia was able to quickly repair some of the major oil refineries hit by Ukrainian drones, reducing capacity left unused by the attacks to about 10%, down from almost 14% in late March, according to Reuters calculations.
Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure since the start of the year, hitting some major oil refineries in the world’s second-largest oil exporter in attacks that have sent oil prices soaring.
Russia considers drone attacks to constitute terrorism. Ukraine says its drone attacks on Russia are justified because it is fighting for survival as Russia has launched “massive retaliatory” strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
No successful attacks on major Russian refineries have been reported since the attack on the Taneco plant on April 2.
Russia is quickly repairing its refineries, despite difficulties in obtaining Western know-how.
This includes the Rosneft-owned Ryazan plant, which has returned the CDU-4 and CDU-6 primary oil refining units to operation, as well as the Kuibyshev refinery which is repairing Syzran’s CDU-4 and CDU-5 and which was previously inactive for CDU-6 maintenance.
According to Reuters calculations, Russia’s total primary oil refining capacity, idled by drones, has been reduced to 90,500 metric tons per day (660,000 barrels per day), from about 123,800 tons per day (907 000 b/d) previously.
However, in total, Russia’s cumulative primary oil refining capacity, taken offline due to various breakdowns and maintenance, is expected to reach 4.4 million tonnes in April, up from 4.1 million tonnes in March.
The respite in strikes in Ukraine follows criticism from the United States, the world’s top energy consumer, where high fuel prices are a priority in the run-up to the November 5 presidential election.
Responding to Republican U.S. Senator Tom Cotton on why Joe Biden’s administration was discouraging Ukrainians from attacking Russia’s “warfare capabilities,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate committee last week armed forces that the attacks could harm global energy markets.
“These attacks could certainly have repercussions on the global energy situation, and… but frankly, I think Ukraine has an interest in going after tactical and operational targets that can directly influence the current fight,” he said. he declared. .
(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and David Evans)