Libya's NOC threatens force majeure, refinery halt over drone strikes

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has warned it could declare force majeure and completely shut down the Zawiya refinery if drone attacks on oil installations in the city persist. The warning came after the company reported a third such strike over the weekend.

The latest drone attack targeted an oil blending and filling plant operated by the Zawiya Oil Refining Company. The device landed near a main oil tank and pipeline network that supplies domestic fuel products. No casualties or material damage were reported in this incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and authorities have not identified any suspects.

The Zawiya refinery, located about 40 km west of Tripoli, has a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day and is connected to the 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield. It is currently Libya's largest operating refinery, as Ras Lanuf remains out of service.

Earlier on Monday, a fire broke out in a fuel tank at an oil depot in the refinery complex after it was struck. Libya's oil ministry said the tank, owned by Brega Petroleum Marketing Company, contained about 4.5 million litres of gasoline and collapsed after catching fire. The ministry added that a series of drone attacks had targeted the Zawiya oil complex, the refinery, and a desalination plant.

In a separate statement on Monday, the NOC said the tank was "directly targeted" and declared a state of extreme emergency in the area, urging authorities to intervene immediately and investigate.

Unverified footage posted online showed large flames and thick black smoke rising over Zawiya. Two engineers at the refinery said operations had continued without suspension.

Early on Saturday, a drone crashed into an untreated naphtha tank at the refinery, causing a leak that staff managed to bring under control.