28 Aug Drone attacks ignite fires at Libya oil complex

A series of drone attacks on Libya’s Zawiya oil complex has caused fires at fuel-storage facilities and a nearby power substation, highlighting the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure to attacks.

The attacks took place in and around the western Libyan city of Zawiya during 10–12 August. At the oil complex, a drone strike ignited a fire in a gasoline-storage tank containing around 4.5 million litres of fuel. The tank subsequently collapsed.

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said emergency teams brought the fires at the oil complex under control earlier than expected. Engineers confirmed that the refinery itself had not been damaged, although operations were temporarily disrupted. No casualties were reported.

The Zawiya complex includes Libya’s largest operating refinery, with a processing capacity of around 120,000 barrels per day. It is therefore a critical part of the country’s fuel infrastructure.

The attacks also affected electricity infrastructure in the area. On 12 August, a drone strike caused a fire at the South Zawiya substation, resulting in a major power outage affecting areas south of the city.

Libya’s General Electricity Company said the attack left more than 700MW of the Zawiya power plant’s 1,300MW generation capacity unavailable. US company GE subsequently suspended its operations at the plant and withdrew its technical teams because of security concerns.

The incidents demonstrate the increasingly complex risks facing industrial and critical infrastructure sites, where fire protection and physical security are closely connected.

For oil and gas facilities, the consequences of a fire can extend well beyond the immediate incident. Fuel-storage areas present significant fire hazards, while damage to power supplies can affect the operation of essential systems and surrounding infrastructure.

The Zawiya attacks also underline the importance of emergency preparedness at facilities operating in unstable security environments. Firefighting teams responding to an industrial incident must potentially deal with simultaneous threats to personnel, equipment and infrastructure.

Libya’s NOC has warned that continued attacks on energy infrastructure could have wider consequences for the country’s oil industry. The organisation has previously indicated that it could consider declaring force majeure if attacks continued.

The incidents come as Libya seeks to increase oil production and attract investment into its energy sector, making the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure an increasingly important concern.