German cyber-attack hits Shell operations
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Multinational energy firm, Shell, declared Tuesday that its operations in Germany have been affected by cyber-attack on two supply logistics service companies: Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH and oil trading firm Mabanaft.
Shell Deutschland GmbH said on Tuesday that the cyber attack on units of Marquard & Bahls Group of Hamburg affected its oil supply chain in Germany, and forced it divert products to alternative holding facilities in the city.
The Oracle Today reports that cyber attacks have become rising threat to big energy and utility firms around the world. The threat is however more pronounced in the upstream spectrum of the petroleum industry, especially on government facilities.
Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH and Mabanaft are subsidiaries of Marquard & Bahls Group, a German oil storage and logistics firm which has launched investigation into the attack.
Shell stated that it is rerouting its oil supplies in Germany to alternative depots, after the two companies on Saturday discovered the cyber attack which affected their IT systems.
Oiltanking Deutschland and Mabanaft jointly stated that they have already launched an investigation into the hack with the help of external specialists, adding that its operations in Germany have been curtailed following the incident.
Oiltanking GmbH Group continues to operate all terminals in all global markets, but the German operations of Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH were “operating with limited capacity,” the company stated.
“The companies are working to restore operations to normal as soon as feasible, but in the meantime, the oil logistics and supply chain in Germany has been affected, including oil logistics at the local operations of supermajor Shell.
“All systems of loading and unloading tanks operated by Oiltanking Deutschland in Germany are being paralyzed, German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday.
“Oiltanking Deutschland is one of the largest independent providers of tank space for oils, chemicals, and gases worldwide, according to Handelsblatt. Oiltanking Deutschland has 11 tank farm locations in Germany.”
The German unit of Mabanaft “has also declared force majeure for the majority of its inland supply activities in Germany,” the statement from the firm said.
Mabanaft is an importer, wholesaler, and supplier of gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, heating oil, and other petroleum products.
