Half of Russia’s Largest Refinery Knocked Out by Drone Attack

NORSI Refinery Halts Operations After Strike

According to ХВИЛЯ: A drone attack on Wednesday forced the shutdown of half the capacity at the Nizhny Novgorodnefteorgsintez (NORSI) refinery. The strike disabled the CDU-6 primary processing unit, which handles 53% of the plant’s output-equivalent to 25,700 metric tons per day. Other processing units at NORSI were not damaged and continue to operate normally.

As a result of the shutdown, NORSI has suspended sales of small wholesale motor fuel batches and stopped offering gasoline on the exchange. The refinery is the largest oil processing facility owned by Lukoil and ranks as the fourth-largest refinery in Russia by throughput. Its total annual capacity exceeds 16 million metric tons of crude, roughly 320,000 barrels per day.

Fuel Market Under Pressure

This disruption could significantly impact the regional motor fuel market, especially since NORSI is Russia’s second-largest producer of gasoline.

Source: Reuters, citing industry sources.

The loss of capacity at NORSI may drive up gasoline prices and constrain supply in the region, as the plant plays a critical role in fuel distribution. In the near term, consumers and businesses reliant on motor fuels could face difficulties. Monitoring the situation closely is essential, as restarting the facility may take time, potentially altering the overall market balance.

The recent drone attack on the NORSI refinery is not an isolated incident, as evidenced by a similar strike targeting the Syzran oil facility earlier this week. Such assaults on Russian energy infrastructure raise concerns about the stability of fuel supplies across the country. To understand the broader implications for the fuel market and regional production capabilities, you can read more about the situation here.