Libya’s largest functioning oil refinery has been shut down after heavy clashes erupted near the facility in Zawiya, west of Tripoli, the plant’s operator and National Oil Corporation said Friday.
Azzawiya Oil Refining Company said it was forced to close the 120,000 barrel-per-day refinery and evacuate all tankers from the port after shelling hit multiple locations inside the complex. The refinery, 40 km west of Tripoli, is linked to Libya’s 300,000 bpd Sharara oilfield.
NOC said several heavy-calibre projectiles landed in different parts of the complex but reported no significant damage so far. It added that fighting had spread into the adjacent residential area, raising risks to the facility and nearby residents.
The refinery was shut and tankers cleared as a precaution. NOC said fuel supplies to Tripoli and surrounding areas had not been affected.
The cause of the violence was not immediately clear. Zawiya’s security directorate described it as a “security operation against outlaws.” The city has seen repeated armed clashes since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, which have at times forced closure of the coastal road to Tunisia.
