Sharjah 24 – AFP: A major oil refinery in western Libya halted operations after armed clashes erupted early Sunday, causing fires in several storage tanks, according to the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC).
The NOC declared a force majeure, stating that gunfire severely damaged storage tanks at the Zawiya refinery, which led to significant fires. Videos on social media showed multiple burning tanks at the facility, located about 45 kilometers west of Tripoli, the capital.
The refinery, Libya’s only one supplying local fuel, sustained the damage due to armed clashes involving light and medium weapons near the site. Despite the ongoing fighting, emergency crews were able to control the fires and gas leaks, minimising further danger.
Reports from Libyan news outlets stated that the clashes resulted in one death and ten injuries, though the toll has not been officially confirmed. NOC spokesman Khaled Ghulam assured that fuel deliveries to Tripoli and surrounding areas would continue without disruption. "Fuel supplies to Brega Oil distribution tanks are secure," he said on Libya al-Ahrar television.
The Zawiya refinery, operational since 1974, is Libya’s second-largest, with a refining capacity of over 120,000 barrels per day. The city of Zawiya has been a hotspot for clashes between armed factions, with previous fighting in May resulting in casualties before tribal leaders intervened.
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