Operations at the Zawiya refinery. Located about 40km (25 miles) west of Tripoli, have resumed following a security operation that temporarily halted production — the facility, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day (bpd), is connected to the 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield. The Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. A subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation, announced the resumption of operations on Saturday, stating that petroleum products are now being supplied to meet local demand for fuel and related products.

Heavy Clashes and Security Concerns

The refinery was forced to shut down and evacuate all tankers from the port after heavy shelling struck multiple locations within the facility. According to the Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), several high-calibre projectiles landed in various parts of the oil complex, but there had been no significant damage at that time. The clashes intensified and spread into the residential area adjacent to the refinery, increasing risks to the facility and surrounding areas, the NOC added.

The Zawiya security directorate described the incident as a “security operation against outlaws.” Reports of unrest in the city circulated online, including unverified footage of gunfire echoing across Zawiya. The fighting, which involved heavy weapons between rival armed groups, reportedly stopped on Friday evening after mediation by local elders.

Political and Security Context

Libya has been plagued by unrest since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Zawiya has seen repeated fighting that has at times forced the closure of the coastal road to the Tunisian border. According to sources cited by Anadolu Agency, the clashes in Zawiya took place in the South al-Harsha area between a group led by Mohammed Bahroun, known as “al-Far,” backed by other armed groups, and another armed group led by Salem Latif.

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli led by Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, and an eastern-based administration appointed by the House of Representatives and headed by Osama Hammad in Benghazi. The ongoing instability has frequently disrupted oil production and infrastructure across the country.

Impact on Fuel Supplies

Despite the temporary shutdown, the NOC said fuel supplies to Tripoli and surrounding areas had not been affected. The Zawiya refinery plays a serious role in Libya’s energy infrastructure, refining crude oil, manufacturing asphalt, blending and packaging mineral oils, and exporting crude oil through the company’s oil terminal. It also supplies some petroleum products for the local market.