Key facts
- Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared force majeure at the Zawiya refinery.
- Drone attacks destroyed a gasoline storage tank at the refinery.
- The destroyed tank contained 4.5 million liters of fuel and ignited a massive blaze.
- Firefighters battled the blaze, which burned through the night.
- Another drone strike near a key oil tank caused no damage.
- The Zawiya refinery is Libya's largest operational facility and houses critical energy infrastructure.
- Fires at fuel storage tanks in the Zawiya oil complex have been brought under control.
Libya's state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced that fires at fuel storage tanks in the Zawiya oil complex, caused by drone attacks, have been brought under control. The attacks disrupted operations and raised concerns about potential force majeure if they continue. Previously, the NOC had declared force majeure at its 120,000 barrels per day (b/d) Zawiya refinery following a series of drone attacks. The most recent strike on Monday evening, the third in two days, hit a tank containing approximately 4.5 million liters of fuel, causing it to collapse and ignite a large blaze. Emergency services battled to contain the fire, which burned through the night into Tuesday. Another drone strike near a key oil tank caused no damage. The Zawiya refinery is the country's largest operational facility and houses critical energy infrastructure. The incidents underscore Libya's continuing instability since the 2011 uprising.