A massive fire at Sudan’s largest oil refinery in the northern Bahri area has sent plumes of smoke into the sky, further intensifying the conflict engulfing the nation.
The Khartoum Refinery, located in Al-Jaili, has been a critical hub for the country’s oil production since its establishment in the 1990s. Currently under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the conflict erupted in mid-April 2023, the refinery was a cornerstone of Sudan’s energy supply, meeting approximately 70% of the country’s demand for gasoline and cooking gas before the war. At full capacity, it could process 100,000 to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, fighting between General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) and the RSF has claimed an estimated 20,000 lives and displaced over 14 million people, according to the United Nations.
Both sides traded accusations over the destruction of the refinery on Thursday.
Competing Accusations
The RSF blamed the fire on indiscriminate SAF airstrikes, underlining in a statement, “The Islamic Movement Army bombed Al-Jaili refinery with explosive barrels, destroying what remained of the facility. These ongoing aerial attacks represent a war crime and are part of the systematic violence perpetrated since the conflict began.”
In response, General al-Burhan’s SAF alleged that RSF forces deliberately set the refinery ablaze to “destroy the infrastructure of the country.”
SAF has been accused of carrying out indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian neighbourhoods and infrastructure since the start of the war.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing intense flames and thick smoke rising from the refinery area, underscoring the scale of the destruction.
Economic Devastation
This isn’t the first time the refinery has been targeted. Earlier clashes caused partial damage to the facility, exacerbating the country’s already dire economic crisis. With fuel supplies dwindling, many Sudanese citizens have been plunged into deeper hardship amid the conflict.
The Khartoum Refinery, owned jointly by Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Mining and China’s National Petroleum Corporation, began operations in 2000 and has been a vital part of Sudan’s oil sector.
As the war continues, the destruction of key infrastructure like the Al-Jaili refinery threatens to deepen Sudan’s humanitarian and economic crises, leaving millions more at risk.