DMEA: Ras Tanura, Yanbu under threat from sea level rise

Analysis carried out by the Internation Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) has shown that many of the world’s largest oil terminals are under threat from sea level rise, with catastrophic sea level rise of one metre likely to occur by 2070 if carbon emissions continue at their current rate, according to a report by The Guardian.

Commenting on the findings, Chief Scientific Advisor at the ICCI James Kirkham warned that a refusal to move away from an oil-based economy would “keep the taps on for sea level rise,” adding that the acceleration of glacier melting and ocean expansion had allowed global sea levels to double within the last 30 years.

According to the findings, 12 out of 15 oil ports with the most tanker traffic are at risk from sea level rise – with 13 expected to be damaged from a one metre rise alone. Those highlighted to be at significant risk were Ras Tanura and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia – operated by the country’s state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, which are vulnerable due to their low elevation.

In 2023, $214bn worth of oil was shipped from both Yanbu and Ras Tanura – making up for 20% of oil exports across the globe.

ICCI director Pam Pearson said: “It's ironic that these oil ports are less than a meter from sea level rise and they have to keep an eye on sea level rise, which is itself linked to the continued use of fossil fuels”.

Other ports at particular risk include Houston and Galveston – the largest such terminals in the US and vital for the country’s oil supply chain.

Despite the obvious threat to long-term security, Pearson noted that government and corporate short-term interests meant information provided was being ignored. “Basic information [from scientific assessments of sea level rise] don’t seem to have gotten into the consciousness of governments,” she noted.

Regarding the analysis, Murray Worthy from Zero Carbon Analytics concluded that “relying on fossil fuels in a warming world is a path to disaster, not energy security”.

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