Libya fuel tank destroyed in latest attack on critical oil infrastructure

07:30

By: Sahili Aya

Libya fuel tank destroyed in latest attack on critical oil infrastructure

A major gasoline storage tank at the Zawiya oil complex in western Libya caught fire and collapsed after being targeted in an attack by unidentified assailants, according to Libya's National Oil Corporation.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks against critical infrastructure reported in the area in recent days, raising fresh concerns over the security of facilities essential to Libya's energy and fuel supply.

The tank, identified as 402-T and operated by Brega Oil Marketing, was directly hit on Monday evening, triggering a large fire before the structure completely collapsed.

Millions of litres of gasoline lost

The damaged tank was holding approximately 4.5 million litres of gasoline when it was attacked, according to the National Oil Corporation.

The scale of the fuel storage facility made the incident particularly serious, with authorities warning of potential risks to nearby oil installations, surrounding storage tanks and populated areas.

Firefighters and civil protection teams were deployed rapidly to contain the blaze. Brega Oil Marketing said crews also worked to cool neighbouring tanks in an effort to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the facility.

The company said an assessment of the damage was already under way.

No information was immediately available on whether the attack or the resulting fire caused casualties.

Series of incidents raises concern

The latest attack follows two other incidents reported in the same region.

On Saturday, a diesel storage tank in Zawiya was targeted, while a desalination plant came under attack the following day, according to the National Oil Corporation.

The succession of incidents has increased concern over the safety of strategic infrastructure in western Libya, where oil facilities play a central role in the country's economy and energy supply.

Brega Oil Marketing called on all parties to halt hostilities and keep away from oil installations and fuel storage sites.

The National Oil Corporation has declared a state of emergency and called for an investigation into the latest incident.

Zawiya refinery remains strategically important

The damaged storage facility is located at the site of Libya's second-largest oil refinery, in Zawiya, roughly 45 kilometres west of Tripoli.

The refinery has a processing capacity of around 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making the security of its surrounding infrastructure particularly important for domestic fuel supplies.

An attack on storage facilities can have consequences beyond the immediate physical damage, potentially affecting fuel distribution and the operation of neighbouring energy infrastructure.

Libya's broader security crisis

The incident comes against the backdrop of Libya's prolonged political and security fragmentation.

The country descended into years of instability following the overthrow and death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Two rival administrations continue to compete for political authority, with Abdul Hamid Dbeibah leading the administration based in the west and a rival power structure operating in the east under the influence of military commander Khalifa Haftar and his allies.

Dbeibah held a security meeting on Monday with senior officials, including the interior minister and commanders of armed groups operating in the capital, to review recent developments.

The Libyan prime minister stressed the need to respond firmly to any action threatening security, vital infrastructure or critical facilities.

With the perpetrators of the Zawiya attack still unidentified, authorities now face the challenge of determining who was behind the incident and whether the latest attacks form part of a coordinated campaign against strategic infrastructure.