ALBAWABA - A fresh review of satellite images has shown a record number of oil tankers circling Iran’s Kharg Island, underscoring mounting pressure on the country’s energy industry as curbs on its oil exports persist.
Images dated May 21 show around 26 tankers clustered around the island’s loading terminals and nearby waterways, the most boats spotted there since the conflict began earlier this year. The photographs show that export activities are still proceeding at a slow rate, with scores of ships waiting offshore.
Comparisons of satellite pictures obtained in March, April, and May suggest a substantial rise in tanker movement near the island. Analysts saw at least 24 vessels anchored 7 to 12 kilometers east of Kharg Island, with two others apparently loading at export terminals.
The images also indicate rising storage demands. Analysts said the positioning of floating tank roofs and patterns of shadows suggested at least a dozen large storage tanks on the island looked full, stoking fears about the capability of facilities to take in further output.
Kharg Island is the centre of Iran’s oil export network. The island in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Bushehr province processes almost 90% of the country’s crude oil exports and is home to some of Iran’s most strategic energy infrastructure.
The rising line of tankers comes as Tehran is confronting mounting difficulties getting oil shipments through regional waters. But industry sources say if storage continues to fill and exports remain curtailed, Iran may eventually be faced with tough choices over output.
The satellite data gives a rare insight of the degree of pressure mounting at Iran's most crucial energy chokepoint, and the economic implications of the ongoing struggle in the region.
