Libya – Ahmed Al-Meslati, spokesperson for Brega Petroleum Marketing Company, confirmed that the company has lost one of its tanks at the Zawiya depot, which is one of the most important storage facilities in western Libya. He explained that the loss will have a direct impact on both operating time and costs.
Speaking by phone to Libya Al-Ahrar TV, Al-Meslati said that unloading imported fuel shipments used to take about three days. However, with reduced storage capacity, the process may now take up to five days, leading to additional effort and higher costs.
The lost tank had a capacity of about 4.5 million liters of gasoline. Al-Meslati noted that rebuilding the tank will require significant time, resources, and expenses.
He stressed the crucial role of storage capacity in preventing bottlenecks. The Zawiya depot serves a large area, reaching from the southwest to the mountains and as far east as Janzur.
Al-Meslati stated that emergency teams began cooling neighboring tanks and removing products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as soon as they responded to the burning tank. This was done to prevent the fire from spreading due to high temperatures.
He confirmed that cooling efforts and the withdrawal of products are ongoing as part of the depot’s safety procedures.
Al-Meslati said the Zawiya depot is currently operating at partial capacity. This has led to congestion, as some residents have traveled to Tripoli to refuel.
He assured the public that fuels remain available. A tanker is currently unloading fuel at Tripoli’s seaport, and there are significant fuel reserves at the Tripoli depot. He called on citizens to avoid panic buying, which would help ease congestion swiftly.
Al-Meslati added that, following coordination with the main operations room at the National Oil Corporation, the company’s chairman directed staff to keep stations open around the clock and continue supplying them to serve the public.
In the latest update, Al-Meslati confirmed that the Zawiya depot can now fulfill some orders. Fuel is being distributed to around 35 to 40 stations in Zawiya, the mountains, and nearby areas to help reduce queues.