Malta oil terminal affected by cyber-attack on European facilities

A Malta-based oil terminal operated by Dutch company Evos is one of multiple oil transport and storage companies across Europe dealing with cyber-attacks.

IT systems have been disrupted at Evos in the Netherlands, Oiltanking in Germany and SEA-Invest in Belgium, the BBC reports.

Dozens of terminals with oil storage facilities around the world have been affected, with companies reporting that the attacks occurred over the weekend.

But experts speaking to the BBC have cautioned against assuming this is a co-ordinated attack. The cyber-attack comes in the wake of rising tension in Europe over a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Evos runs an oil storage facility in Birzebbuga, which was acquired last year from Oiltanking.

A spokesperson for Evos in the Netherlands told the BBC that IT services at terminals in Terneuzen, Ghent and Malta have "caused some delays in execution".

It is unclear at this stage whether the Maltese police are involved in the investigation.

Belgian prosecutors said they are investigating the cyber-attack that's affected SEA-Invest terminals including the company's largest in Antwerp, called SEA-Tank.

A spokesperson for the company said they were hit on Sunday with every port they run in Europe and Africa affected.

The company is working to get a back-up IT system online but says that most liquid transportation is operational.

The spokeswoman said SEA-Invest is aware of the cyber-attacks against other companies but investigations have not yet determined if there is a link.