Libya’s largest operational oil refinery in Zawiya has been shut down following violent clashes and shelling near the facility, according to engineers and the operator of the plant. An emergency has also been declared around the area.
The refinery, operated by Azzawiya Oil Refining Company, is located about 40 kilometres west of Tripoli and has a processing capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. It is also linked to Libya’s major 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield.
In a statement, the company said it was forced to completely shut down operations and evacuate all oil tankers from the port after heavy shelling struck multiple parts of the refinery.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation confirmed that several high-calibre projectiles landed within the oil complex but said no significant damage had been recorded so far.
The NOC added that clashes had spread into residential areas near the refinery, raising concerns over the safety of workers and surrounding communities. As a precaution, operations were suspended and tankers evacuated, although fuel supplies to Tripoli and nearby regions remain unaffected.
Authorities have not yet confirmed who is responsible for the violence. However, local security officials described the situation as part of an ongoing “security operation against outlaws.”
Libya has remained unstable since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, with frequent armed confrontations affecting key infrastructure, including oil facilities.
Zawiya has repeatedly experienced clashes in recent years, sometimes leading to the closure of the coastal route connecting Libya to the Tunisian border.
Unverified reports and footage circulating online showed gunfire and unrest in the city as tensions escalated around the refinery area.
