Libya Zawiya refinery attack triggers massive 4.5m litre gasoline fire

Emergency crews in Libya are battling a massive blaze at the Zawiya oil depot after a gasoline reservoir containing 4.5 million litres was struck and collapsed in an attack by unknown perpetrators on Monday, 10 August. The facility, located approximately 40 kilometres west of Tripoli, is the country’s second-largest refinery with a daily capacity of 120,000 barrels. Infrastructure Damage and Response The National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed that tank 402-T, operated by the Brega Oil Marketing Company, was directly targeted. The impact triggered a severe fire that led to the total structural failure of the reservoir. Brega officials stated that firefighters are currently engaged in cooling operations on adjacent tanks to prevent the fire from spreading further across the depot. Libya’s emergency services reported that there have been no serious casualties following the explosion. Most medical interventions at the scene have been limited to treating cases of smoke inhalation among personnel and residents in the coastal city. The NOC has declared a state of emergency and formally requested a government investigation into the security breach. Escalating Attacks on Oil Assets The…