Drone Attacks Threaten Libya's Oil Sector, Raising Fears of Production Halt

Libya's crucial oil sector is facing severe security threats following a series of drone attacks that have set facilities ablaze in Zawiya, west of Tripoli. These strikes directly target infrastructure vital to the nation's energy industry, raising alarms among experts and officials.

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drone chaos and armed groups have contributed to deteriorating security around the strategically important refinery.

Experts describe the attacks as a significant danger, warning that further assaults could compel the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to declare force majeure, a contractual clause that would allow the suspension of operations at the Zawiya refinery. Firefighting teams were still battling a blaze at the refinery as of Tuesday afternoon, working to cool the site and secure adjacent tanks and facilities to prevent the fire from spreading.

The attacks represent a new security challenge, with drones increasingly targeting storage, refining, and distribution facilities. One of the sites hit was the Zawiya Oil Refining Company's lubricants blending and packaging plant. A drone reportedly fell near a main oil tank and a pipeline network crucial for domestic lubricant production. Additionally, a gasoline storage tank belonging to Brega Oil Marketing Company, holding approximately 4.5 million liters of gasoline, was directly struck, causing a major fire and the tank's complete collapse.

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fuel distribution had been partially disrupted by the situation at the refinery, forcing the company to shift distribution operations to the Tripoli oil depot.

Brega spokesman Ahmed al-Maslati confirmed that fuel distribution has been partially disrupted, forcing the company to reroute operations to the Tripoli oil depot. He urged decisive action to halt the drone attacks threatening both oil production and fuel distribution. While no casualties have been reported, the NOC's warning of a potential force majeure declaration carries significant weight. Oil expert Najwa al-Beshti noted that such a declaration in Zawiya could halt the refining of 100,000 barrels per day from the Sharara field and stop exports of around 200,000 barrels of crude via Zawiya port. This would represent a loss of over 20 percent of Libya's oil output, posing a grave threat to an economy heavily reliant on petroleum revenues.

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such a declaration in Zawiya would have immediate repercussions for Libya’s oil production and exports. It could halt the refining of 100,000 barrels per day from the Sharara field and stop exports of around 200,000 barrels of crude through Zawiya port.