Aramco says operations normal in oil-producing region under lock-down from coronavirus

Saudi Aramco said Monday its operations in the oil-producing region of Qatif are normal after the country temporarily locked down the area to contain the outbreak of coronavirus, which spread to 11 inhabitants there.

"Saudi Aramco's operations are continuing as normal and we are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our employees and operations," Aramco said in reply to emailed questions.

Saudi Arabia announced Sunday it would lock down Qatif province, an area in the oil-rich eastern region inhabited mainly by Shiite Saudis that is also the location of major crude facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producing company that has a production capacity of 12 million b/d.

Qatif includes facilities to produce, process and transport 500,000 b/d of blended Arabian Light oil from the Qatif field and 300,000 b/d of Arabian Medium crude from the offshore Abu Safah field, according to Aramco's website.

Saudi Arabia has taken a series of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus, with 15 confirmed cases up to Monday. Besides the lock-down of Qatif, Saudi Arabia has restricted or banned flights from countries where the virus cases have soared, closed schools and universities and suspended religious visits to its holy sites.