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A study by the Swedish climate organisation International Cryosphere Climate Initiative has revealed that according to global warming scientists, 13 of the largest oil ports around the world are at operational risk due to rising sea levels and subsequent flooding. A rise of just 1 meter could create disruptions as early as 2070 if carbon emissions are not reduced. Russia’s Ust-Luga Port in European Russia is the only domestic port to be affected.
Russia is also somewhat immune from the risks to global oil ports as it does not receive oil products via sea as the country has its own oil reserves and internal transport systems.
Analysts at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative have identified two ports in Saudi Arabia as the most vulnerable: Ras Tanura and Yanbu. Both are operated by the state-owned oil company Aramco, with 98% of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports carried out through these ports. Saudi Arabia produces about 11% of the global oil consumption, second after the United States, whose main oil ports at Houston and Galveston are also at risk. Russia is the third largest oil exporter at volumes slightly behind Saudi Arabia.
Other oil ports in the United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore, the Netherlands and South Korea are all expected to face problems with rising sea levels, with the 13 ports affected collectively handling about 20% of global oil exports.
The Russian government has already decided to expand the boundaries and sea defences of the Ust-Luga seaport to cater for the potential difficulties.
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