Libyans queue for fuel despite assurances of adequate supply

A deepening fuel shortage is gripping parts of Libya, with queues stretching for kilometres and daily life increasingly strained, as reported by the Libyan Scene on February 12. In several regions, motorists are waiting for hours to fill their tanks, as supply stations struggle to meet demand.

The crisis has hit the city of Khums, the municipalities of Wadi al-Shati and a number of southern areas particularly hard, despite this, Libya’s National Oil corporation has ensured that fuel supplies are at “good levels” in a statement on February 12. In some locations, lines of vehicles have extended to nearly seven kilometres, reflecting what residents describe as a sharp decline in available fuel over recent days. Libyans are no strangers to fuel shortages, with the fuel crisis often impacting daily life across the country.

Shortages such as this form part of a much wider structural problem of state-run fuel smuggling in Libya. A significant portion of imported fuel is diverted from official supply chains into illicit networks. Reports indicate that elements of the Libyan National Army (LNA) aligned with Khalifa Haftar have been involved in transporting fuel across Libya’s southern border into Sudan to support the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), acting in coordination with external backers such as the United Arab Emirates.

The networks through which diesel and petrol is smuggled to sustain the RSF’s genocide in Darfur, in turn, reduce the amount of fuel available for domestic distribution and strains legitimate supply chains for everyday consumers in Libya.

The recent shortages in southern Libya have disrupted transport networks, with knock-on effects felt across local markets and essential services. Residents say petrol stations can no longer cope with growing demand, especially in areas where reliance on private vehicles is high and fuel is also required for agricultural operations and heavy machinery. For many, hours spent waiting at forecourts have become part of everyday life.

There are mounting concerns that prolonged disruption could drive up the cost of basic goods as transport expenses rise. Some services, including water delivery and public transport between towns and villages, have reportedly been suspended. Traders in affected areas have pointed to significant increases in commodity prices.

In Wadi al-Shati, filling stations are operating under the supervision of a security force affiliated with the Directorate of Beach Security, tasked with safeguarding facilities and organising vehicle flow in an effort to prevent disorder.

Residents have urged the relevant authorities to increase fuel allocations to the southern region in line with its population size and geographic spread, warning that continued shortages risk compounding existing economic pressures and destabilising public services.

Libyan Scene, Libya Observer, Maghrebi.org