Blaze hits diesel tank at Libya's Zawiya refinery, state firm says

A fire broke out on Monday at a diesel storage tank in Libya's Zawiya refinery, sending thick plumes of smoke over the area, according to the state-owned Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. The tank was hit under circumstances that remain unknown, the company said in a statement.

Brega, a subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), is responsible for fuel supplies in the country. Firefighting teams were working to contain the blaze, the company added, noting that damage assessments were underway and further updates would follow once confirmed.

The NOC later said the tank, which held an estimated 4.5 million litres of gasoline, was "directly targeted." It declared an extreme state of emergency in the area and called on authorities to intervene immediately and launch an investigation into the incident.

Unverified footage circulating online showed large flames and heavy black smoke rising over Zawiya city. Despite the fire, two engineers at the refinery said operations continued without suspension.

The incident comes two days after a drone crashed into an untreated naphtha tank at the same refinery early on Saturday, causing a leak that staff managed to bring under control.

Zawiya refinery, located about 40 km west of Tripoli, is the largest operating refinery in the country, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. It is linked to the 300,000 bpd Sharara oilfield.