Fires at Libya’s Zawiya refinery brought under control

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in a statement on December 15th that fires that broke out in a number of reservoirs in Libya’s Zawiya refinery have been brought under control, according to Reuters.

Zawiya, which lies 40km (or 25 miles) west of capital Tripoli, houses Libya’s biggest functioning refinery, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels daily. The refinery is connected to the country’s 300,000 barrels pre day Sharara oilfield.

NOC spokesperson Khaled Abulgasem Gulam said teams at the refinery are transferring the remaining contents to other reservoirs.

NOC declared force majeure early on December 15th after reservoirs at the Zawiya refinery were severely damaged due to ongoing fighting between armed groups close by.

There was no immediate indications of who was was fighting and why. NOC posted pictures on their Facebook page showing the fires being extinguished by firefighting teams.

Libya’s oil sector is a major source of income for the country, and has been a target for local and broader political protests as well as security unrest since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled by a NATO-backed uprising 13 years ago.

Reuters