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🛒 تسوق الآنLibya's Zawiya Oil Refinery Resumes Full Operations After Clashes Force Two-Day Shutdown
Libya's largest functioning oil refinery has resumed full operations after intense fighting between armed groups near the facility forced a complete shutdown lasting approximately two days, officials confirmed on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The Zawiya Oil Refining Company announced that the plant, located roughly 40 kilometres west of the capital Tripoli, was back to normal production following the violent clashes that erupted in the early hours of Friday, May 8. The refinery has a processing capacity of 120,000 barrels per day and is connected to the 300,000-barrel-per-day Sharara oilfield, making it a critical node in Libya's energy infrastructure.
The crisis began when armed clashes involving heavy weapons broke out around the oil complex, sending projectiles into various locations within the facility. The National Oil Corporation confirmed that several high-calibre shells had landed inside the refinery grounds, though no significant structural damage was initially reported. However, as the fighting intensified and spread into the residential neighbourhoods adjacent to the plant, the risk of catastrophic damage escalated sharply.
In response, the NOC and the Zawiya Refining Company declared a state of emergency and ordered a precautionary halt to all operations. Workers were evacuated from the oil complex and the adjacent port, and all tankers were removed from the harbour area as a safety measure. Alarm sirens were activated across the facility as shells continued to fall within operational sites.
Zawiya's security directorate described the operation as a security operation against outlaws, while local authorities said they had launched a large-scale campaign targeting criminal groups involved in murder, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking. Videos verified by Al Jazeera showed explosions, gunfire, and damage to vehicles and facilities inside the refinery perimeter.
Despite the severity of the disruption, the NOC confirmed that fuel supplies to Tripoli and surrounding areas remained unaffected throughout the shutdown, thanks to existing reserves and alternative supply arrangements. The corporation also confirmed the safety of all employees at the facility.
The resumption of operations is a significant relief for Libya's fragile economy, which remains heavily dependent on oil revenues. The North African nation has struggled with repeated disruptions to its oil infrastructure amid ongoing political instability and armed conflict. Libya's oil production has been a frequent casualty of the country's protracted crisis, with blockades, armed confrontations, and political disputes periodically shutting down key facilities.
Since the overthrow of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been divided between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the eastern-based administration commanded by military leader Khalifa Haftar, which lacks international recognition. The Zawiya refinery has found itself caught in the crossfire of this broader conflict on multiple occasions, and the coastal road near the city has been repeatedly shut down due to fighting.
The Zawiya Refining Company called on all parties to cease fire immediately and urged Libyan authorities to take decisive action to protect critical infrastructure and civilian lives. The incident underscores the persistent vulnerability of Libya's oil sector to the country's unresolved security challenges and the urgent need for a lasting political settlement.
