Libya’s Zawiya Refinery Resumes Full Operations After Two-Day Shutdown
Libya’s largest functioning oil refinery resumed full operations on Sunday after fighting near the facility forced a complete shutdown for about two days. The refinery, located 40km west of Tripoli with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, is connected to the 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield.
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investopedia.comLibya’s largest functioning oil refinery has resumed full operations after fighting over the past two days forced a complete shutdown of the facility, according to a statement by the refinery. The development on Sunday followed an emergency declaration after clashes erupted near the refinery in Zawiya on Friday.
The facility is located about 40km (25 miles) west of Tripoli and has a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. It is connected to the 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield. The company said it was forced to shut the plant completely and evacuate all tankers from the port when heavy shelling struck multiple locations inside the facility.
Fighting intensified and spread into the residential area adjacent to the refinery, increasing risks to the facility and surrounding areas. The corporation added that fuel supplies to Tripoli and surrounding areas had not been affected. Zawiya’s security directorate described the events as a security operation against outlaws.
Reports of unrest in the city circulated online, including unverified footage of gunfire echoing across Zawiya.
Libya has experienced repeated unrest since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Zawiya has seen repeated fighting that has at times forced the closure of the coastal road to the Tunisian border.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- 2026-05-10
Zawiya refinery resumes full operations after two-day shutdown.
1 sourceAl Jazeera - 2026-05-09
Emergency declared after fighting erupted near Zawiya refinery on Friday.
1 sourceAl Jazeera - 2026-05-09
Company shuts plant completely and evacuates tankers due to heavy shelling.
1 sourceAl Jazeera - 2011
Overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi leads to ongoing unrest in Libya.
1 sourceAl Jazeera
Potential Impact
- 01
Fuel supplies to Tripoli and surrounding areas remained uninterrupted during the shutdown.
- 02
The refinery's two-day closure temporarily halted processing linked to the Sharara oilfield.
- 03
Repeated fighting in Zawiya continues to disrupt local infrastructure and transportation routes.
- 04
No significant damage was reported to the refinery complex from the shelling.
Transparency Panel
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