A drone hit a tank containing untreated naphtha at an oil refinery in the western Libyan city of Zawiya at 3:45 a.m. on Saturday. The impact created two holes in the tank wall and caused a limited leak of the product.
Refinery teams intervened, bringing the leak under control and stopping it. No fire broke out during the incident, and none of the facility’s workers was injured. It was not disclosed who sent the drone, and none of the parties immediately issued a statement on the incident.
Call to protect the refinery
Zawiya Oil Refinery Company expressed concern over the presence of military equipment around the facility. The company said this posed a serious risk to lives, property and the environment.
The company called for the refinery to be kept away from clashes and armed activity, describing the safety of workers and facilities and the continuation of production as priorities. It also called on the relevant institutions to take measures to protect the refinery and its personnel.
Clashes in Zawiya and Sorman
Clashes broke out between armed groups last Tuesday in the western Libyan cities of Zawiya and Sorman. The clashes left people dead and injured, while some prisoners escaped.
The causes of the clashes, the identities of the parties involved and the official death toll remain unclear. Zawiya Oil Refinery Company told workers living in unsafe areas not to come to work during the clashes and declared Tuesday an emergency day off.
Strategic city because of its oil facilities
Armed clashes have also occurred in Zawiya in recent months. In addition to deaths and injuries, these incidents caused damage to strategic facilities.
Located on the coast, Zawiya is of strategic and economic importance to Libya because it is home to a refinery and other oil facilities. Security tensions in the city can affect fuel and energy supplies as well as transportation.
Libya’s political division
Political authority in Libya remains divided between two governments. The Tripoli-based government is led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, head of the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, which controls western Libya.
The other government, based in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, controls the east and much of the south of the country. It was appointed by the House of Representatives at the beginning of 2022 and is currently headed by Osama Hammad.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya continues its efforts to resolve long-running disputes among the country’s institutions and overcome obstacles to elections.
