The Zawiya refinery, Libya’s largest operating refinery, resumed full operations on Sunday after a two-day shutdown caused by nearby clashes for which a state of emergency was declared. The plant, about 40 km west of Tripoli and with a 120,000 bpd capacity, had evacuated tankers after heavy shelling struck parts of the complex. Libya’s National Oil Corporation said there was no significant damage and fuel supplies to Tripoli were not affected, though fighting spread into adjacent residential areas.
Zawiya Refinery Restarts Full Operations After Two-Day Shutdown Amid Nearby Clashes
A burned-out car is pictured in Libya's capital [File: Mahmud Turkia/AFP]
Libya’s largest operating oil refinery in Zawiya has resumed full operations after a two-day shutdown prompted by nearby fighting, the refinery said in a statement on Sunday.
What Happened
The facility, located about 40 km (25 miles) west of Tripoli and with a processing capacity of 120,000 barrels per day (bpd), was forced offline after clashes erupted near the complex on Friday and a state of emergency was declared.
Operational Impact and Response
Operator Azzawiya Oil Refining Company reported that heavy shelling struck multiple locations inside the complex, forcing a full plant shutdown and the evacuation of all tankers from the port. By Sunday the refinery said normal operations had resumed.
National Oil Corporation (NOC) said several high-calibre projectiles landed in parts of the oil complex but there was no significant damage at the time the statement was issued.
NOC added that, while fighting had intensified and spread into the residential area adjacent to the refinery—raising risks for the facility and nearby neighbourhoods—fuel supplies to Tripoli and the surrounding areas were not affected.
Wider Context
The Zawiya refinery is connected to the Sharara oilfield, which has a reported output capacity of about 300,000 bpd. Zawiya itself has seen repeated bouts of unrest since 2011, at times disrupting the coastal road toward the Tunisian border. Local authorities described the latest events as a “security operation against outlaws.”
There were reports and unverified video clips circulating online showing gunfire and unrest in the city; these have not been independently verified.
Key facts: refinery restarted operations on Sunday after a two-day halt; tankers were evacuated; NOC reported no major damage and said fuel supplies remained intact.
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