What Makes Kharg Island Strategic And How Much Oil Is Exported From It Daily?

New Delhi: Amidst the increasing tension in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has claimed that the US Central Command launched a major military operation on Iran's Kharg Island. According to Trump, it was one of the most powerful bombing campaigns in the history of the Middle East, in which military bases on the island were targeted. He said that the oil infrastructure there was not intentionally disturbed. Trump warned that if Iran or any other country hinders the safe movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the US may also consider targeting oil facilities.

Why is Kharg Island the backbone of Iran's economy?

Kharg Island is considered very important for the economy of Iran. This small island located in the Persian Gulf handles about 80 to 90 percent of the country's total crude oil exports. Pipelines from many of Iran's major oil fields directly reach this island, from where the oil is loaded into tankers and sent to international markets. This is why if the oil terminals here are damaged, Iran's oil income could be seriously affected.

What makes Kharg Island special?

The geographical location of this island makes it extremely important. Most of Iran's coastal areas are shallow, where large oil tankers cannot easily reach. In contrast, the sea around Kharg Island is relatively deep, allowing large supertankers to come directly to shore and load oil. This is the reason why it has remained the largest oil export center for Iran for decades. It is said that this island is spread over an area of about 7.7 square miles and is located about 27 miles away from the south-west coast of Iran.

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How much oil passes through here daily?

According to energy market data, on normal days, about 13 to 16 lakh barrels of crude oil are exported daily from Kharg Island. However, in recent weeks this quantity increased rapidly and for some time reached 30 to 40 lakh barrels per day. It is believed that due to fear of a possible American attack, Iran had already tried to export maximum oil. Apart from this, there is also an oil storage capacity of about 18 million barrels on this island.

What would be the impact if oil facilities were attacked?

Experts believe that if the oil terminals of Kharg Island are targeted, its impact will not be limited to Iran only. There may also be a major shock in the global energy market. In fact, a large part of the world's total oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz. In such a situation, if the supply in this region is disrupted, there may be a sharp rise in oil prices in the international market and the pressure on the global economy may also increase.

Could this deepen the global oil crisis?

In the current situation, the Middle East is already going through a period of tension and oil prices have reached around $ 100 per barrel in many markets. If oil supply from Kharg Island is affected, the supply in the global market may further decrease. Experts say that this may lead to a further increase in oil prices and may also affect the energy security of many countries.