Libya's National Oil Corporation Announces Force Majeure at Major Refinery Following Violence

Tripoli, Dec 15 (NationPress) The state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya announced on Sunday the implementation of a state of force majeure at an oil refinery situated in the western city of Zawiya, about 45 km from the capital Tripoli, as a result of destruction caused by armed confrontations.

"The NOC is compelled to declare a force majeure and a level three emergency, which is the highest level of alert. This action is due to substantial damage inflicted on several storage tanks at the Zawiya refinery from gunfire early on Sunday morning, resulting in severe fires. This destruction is a direct outcome of armed clashes involving light and medium weaponry in the vicinity of the refinery," the NOC stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Despite the ongoing clashes around the refinery, the security and safety personnel at the site were able to manage the fires and gas leaks, as per the statement.

The Zawiya refinery, which is the second-largest in Libya and was established in 1974, has a daily production capacity of approximately 120,000 barrels of oil products.

The declaration of force majeure, which is invoked under extraordinary circumstances, provides the NOC with immunity from liability regarding breaches of oil delivery contracts.

The NOC urged relevant authorities to take immediate action to cease the hostilities and to ensure that oil facilities remain outside of conflict zones, asserting that damage to the refinery's storage tanks, which hold highly flammable substances, poses a significant risk to civilian safety.

Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya's oil sector, which is crucial to its economy, has often found itself embroiled in the turmoil of political strife and armed conflict.