Zawiya Refinery Halted Amid Clashes, 120k bpd Capacity at Risk

The Zawiya complex lies about 40 kilometres west of Tripoli and processes crude from the Sharara field. Since 2011 Libya has been split between rival administrations, and armed groups frequently clash over control of oil infrastructure. On Friday morning explosions and gunfire were reported around the refinery, prompting authorities to launch a security operation against criminal elements. The refinery has faced similar shutdowns in past years when violence flared near its perimeter.

- The refinery has a processing capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, making it Libya's biggest operational facility. - The National Oil Corporation declared a precautionary halt, evacuated employees, and activated alarm sirens after heavy weapons fire landed inside the complex. - NOC confirmed all personnel are safe and stated that fuel supplies will remain normal despite the shutdown. - Videos verified by local media showed explosions and damage to several cars and facilities inside the refinery, though no major structural harm was reported.

The halt removes roughly 120,000 bpd from Libya's output, tightening already volatile global oil markets. While NOC assures no immediate fuel shortage, prolonged fighting could damage equipment and delay repairs, affecting export revenues and domestic fuel availability. Analysts note that repeated interruptions may encourage buyers to seek alternative sources, putting further pressure on Libya's fragile economy. The Sharara field, which feeds Zawiya, produces about 300,000 bpd; any disruption at the refinery can create a bottleneck for that crude. Domestic consumers may feel the impact if the outage extends beyond a few days, as alternative import routes are limited and costly.