Drone strike ignites fire at Libya's largest refinery; NOC threatens shutdown

A drone attack has ignited a fire at Libya's Zawiya oil refinery, the country's largest operating facility, in what the National Oil Corporation described as the third such strike on oil assets in the city within two days.

The fire broke out at tank number 402-T, which contained approximately 4.5 million litres of gasoline. The tank caught fire and collapsed following the direct strike, according to Libya's oil ministry. No casualties were reported, though some patients were treated for smoke inhalation.

The Zawiya refinery, located about 40 kilometres west of Tripoli, has a daily processing capacity of 120,000 barrels and is currently Libya's largest operating refinery. It is connected to the country's Sharara oilfield, which produces 300,000 barrels per day.

The National Oil Corporation warned that it could declare force majeure and completely suspend operations at the refinery if the drone attacks continue. The statement came after the latest strike targeted an oil blending and filling plant operated by the Zawiya Oil Refining Company, with the drone falling near the main oil tank and pipeline network used to produce oils for the domestic market.

No immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks was made, and authorities did not publicly identify who they believed was behind them.