This Sunday, December 15, 2024, brilliant violent fights near the Zawiya refinery, located in western Libya, 40km from Tripoli, caused major damage to its facilities.
Faced with the severity of the situation, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) was forced to declare the state of “force majeure” and to establish a state of emergency to protect the refinery.
The clashes between armed groups have caused devastating fires in the refinery tanks, which treats 120,000 barrels of crude oil daily, mainly extracted from the field of Sharara. Balls from the cross shots have reached the tanks, triggering flames and threatening to spread toxic smoke in the region.
The refinery safety teams have managed to control the flames and contain gas leaks, thus limiting the immediate risks of a more serious disaster. However, the situation remains critical, with clashes that continue to rage around the facilities, endangering the lives of employees and residents of neighboring areas.
In a press release, the NOC expressed its concerns about the risks linked to the flammable nature of the products stored on the spot and called for rapid intervention by the Libyan authorities to secure refinery and end the violence. The company remains mobilized to ensure the safety of its facilities and closely monitor the evolution of the situation.
