Libya's National Oil Corporation warns of a possible shutdown as drone attacks continue to target the Zawiya refinery Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said Tuesday it could declare force majeure and completely halt operations at the Zawiya refinery if drone attacks on oil assets in the city continue, after reporting a third such attack over Sunday and Monday.
NOC said the latest drone targeted an oil blending and filling plant operated by the Zawiya Oil Refining Company, landing near its main oil tank and a pipeline network used to produce oils for the domestic market. No casualties or material damage were reported. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and authorities did not say who they believed was behind the attacks.
Zawiya refinery, around 40 km (25 miles) west of Tripoli, has a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day and is connected to the country’s 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield. It is currently Libya’s largest operating refinery, with Ras Lanuf out of operation.
On Monday, a fire accompanied by heavy smoke broke out in a fuel tank at an oil depot at the Zawiya refinery after it was struck, Brega Petroleum Marketing Company said. Libya’s oil ministry said Tuesday that the tank, which belonged to Brega and contained about 4.5 million litres of gasoline, caught fire and collapsed, adding that a series of drone attacks had targeted the Zawiya oil complex and refinery as well as a desalination plant.
NOC said in a separate statement Monday that the tank was “directly targeted” and declared a state of extreme emergency in the area, calling on authorities to intervene immediately and investigate. Unverified footage posted online showed huge flames and thick black smoke billowing over Zawiya. Two engineers working at the refinery said Monday that operations had continued without suspension.
Early Saturday, a drone crashed into an untreated naphtha tank at the Zawiya refinery, causing a leak that staff managed to control.
- Source: Reuters