The National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared a state of force majeure on Sunday after significant damage was inflicted on storage tanks at the Zawiya refinery, located west of Tripoli. The damage occurred as a result of gunfire during armed clashes between militias aligned with the government of Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh.
In an official statement, the NOC reported that several fires broke out due to the gunfire and were brought under control with considerable effort by safety and security teams. The ongoing hostilities in the vicinity of the refinery continue to pose a serious risk to the lives of employees and local residents, while also threatening further fires or catastrophic damage to tanks containing highly flammable materials.
The NOC Board of Directors announced it is in continuous session with specialized departments to monitor the situation and implement measures aimed at mitigating risks to both lives and infrastructure.
The corporation urged authorities to take immediate action to end the clashes and protect the refinery from further harm. It also called on the Dbeibeh government to intervene promptly to defuse the conflict and safeguard critical energy infrastructure from the potential risk of explosions or environmental disasters.
In its statement, the NOC emphasized the importance of prioritizing national interests, warning that prolonged violence near strategic oil facilities could have severe repercussions for Libya’s economy and societal stability.