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Libya's NOC says Zawiya oil fires brought under control
LIBYA-OIL-BLAST:Libya's NOC says Zawiya oil fires brought under control
By Ayman al-Warfalli, Ahmed Elumami and Nayera Abdallah
TRIPOLI, - Libya's National Oil Corporation said on Tuesday that emergency and safety teams had brought all fires at several fuel storage tanks in the Zawiya oil complex under control earlier than expected, following attacks by explosive-laden drones.
Renewed violence in the strategic Libyan city of Zawiya has disrupted the oil industry in the OPEC member country, with state oil firm NOC saying it could declare force majeure if drone attacks on energy assets in the city continued.
Located west of Tripoli, Zawiya, which hosts Libya's largest operating refinery, has experienced repeated clashes between armed groups. Drone attacks over the weekend and into Monday targeted its oil complex, operated by the Zawiya Oil Refining Company, causing a tank containing about 4.5 million litres of gasoline to collapse after a fire.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks and authorities did not say who they believed was behind them, but Libya has been divided between rival factions since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi 15 years ago.
A spokesperson for the tanks' owner, Brega Petroleum Marketing, which is in charge of Libya's fuel supplies, had said earlier on Tuesday that the fires were expected to be extinguished by Wednesday.
Libya's internationally recognized prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, said in a statement on X that targeting oil and industrial facilities with drones was a serious crime and an escalation that "will not go unanswered."
"The use of drones to strike vital facilities is not a random incident, but rather an organized and dangerous act that requires a firm response to protect the state and its institutions and prevent its recurrence," Dbeibah said.
BLAZE HAS NOT DAMAGED REFINERY, ENGINEERS SAY
Although intense, the blazes have not caused any damage to the refinery at the complex, two engineers told Reuters.
They did, however, lead to a partial shutdown of operations at the Zawiya oil depot that disrupted fuel supply to several stations in the western region, though this was later resumed, the Brega spokesperson said.
The overall supply situation within the country remained stable, the spokesperson added, due to available volumes of gasoline at the Tripoli oil depot and tankers loading additional shipments.
Libya's National Oil Corp said it could completely halt operations at the Zawiya refinery after the attack.
No casualties were reported, according to NOC. The Zawiya refinery has a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day and is connected to the country's 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield.
Two officials from Libya's electricity company also said two drones had targeted the Zawiya power plant early on Tuesday morning, with one hitting the fire-fighting system and another falling near a fuel tank but causing no damage.
LIBYA SEEKING FOREIGN INVESTORS
The latest flare-up in violence could derail Libya's plans to overhaul its oil sector to boost output. The country holds Africa's largest proven oil reserves, yet has struggled to restore its pre-2011 production levels of 1.6 million bpd.
In June, it managed to reach 1.44 million bpd, the highest level since 2013.
The country, whose economy relies heavily on oil, has been actively courting international investors in its effort to increase its output to 2 million bpd.
It signed major deals with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips in January, then in February awarded oil and gas blocks to companies including Chevron and Eni — its first licensing round since 2007.
The split between two administrations in the east and the west has stunted the country's progress, as foreign investors remain wary. The sides often clash over control of the oil revenues that pour into the Central Bank of Libya, leading to oilfield shutdowns.
In 2024, a standoff over control of the bank slashed the country's oil exports by more than half. It was resolved after months with the appointment of current governor Naji Issa.
Documents seen by Reuters on Monday showed Issa had submitted his resignation to the country's rival legislative chambers. He said he could not continue in his post.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
