Saudis assembling separate military force to protect oil assets
ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia's growing rapid reaction force to protect energy resources has installed
radars, sensors and night-vision systems to prevent attacks by Al Qaida and
Iranian-aligned Shi'ite insurgents.
Saudis are not saying whether the Nov. 18 at
Aramco's Hawiyah gas liquids recovery plant (above) which killed at least 28 people was the result of an Al Qaida attack.
Officials said the Interior Ministry has been
organizing a 35,000-member force with a separate budget to protect energy
facilities.
"Have you heard of any attacks lately?" Saudi Deputy Oil Minister Prince
Abdul Aziz Bin Salman asked in mid-November.
"We believe we have taken every
measure necessary to protect facilities and pre-empt any attempt. We take a
great deal of pride in being a secure and reliable producer."
In February 2006, Saudi forces repulsed an Al Qaida strike on the
world's largest oil processing plant at Abqaiq. Officials said the new rapid
reaction force has recruited nearly 10,000 troops. They said the force would
reach its full strength by 2011.
The security force was meant to protect the state-owned Saudi Aramco,
which produces crude oil and natural gas. On Nov. 18, fire swept through
Aramco's Hawiyah gas liquids recovery plant and at least 28 people were
killed in one of the worst incidents that involved the kingdom's energy
sector.
"Twenty-eight have lost their lives and 12 are still missing," Saudi Oil
Minister Ali Al Naimi said.
Aramco has sought to bolster output at Hawiyah to 310,000 barrels of
ethane and natural gas liquids products by 2008. Neither Aramco nor Saudi
officials disclosed whether the facility might have been attacked by Al
Qaida.
"Necessary operational adjustments have been made to the gas system to
