Iran resorts to floating storage amid pressure on oil exports
Iran resorts to floating storage amid pressure on oil exports
2026-04-25
Shafaq News – Tehran
International reports on Saturday indicated that Iran is facing increasing pressure in its oil sector as storage capacity approaches its maximum limits, amid restrictions on its exports, prompting it to take emergency measures to avoid a production shutdown.
According to informed sources cited by Sky News, Tehran has reactivated a retired supertanker known as the Nasha for use as a floating storage unit off Kharg Island, with the aim of absorbing the oil surplus resulting from declining exports.
She noted that “Kharg Island is a major hub for Iranian oil exports, with the largest proportion of shipments passing through it, making it a sensitive pressure point under the current restrictions on tanker movement.”
Experts estimate that Iran could face full storage facilities within about 13 days if exports continue to decline while production levels remain at current levels.
According to reports, “this situation may force the option of closing some oil wells, which may have complex technical and economic repercussions, including the difficulty of restarting them later.”
The sources also reported that “Iran’s resorting to using old tankers as floating tanks reflects the extent of the pressure facing the oil sector, amid efforts to contain the crisis through temporary solutions.”
Analysts believe that “the continuation of this situation puts the future of Iranian oil production at a critical stage, given its connection to the course of political and economic developments in the region.”
shafaq.com
