News

This Monday morning, a group of personnel from the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) blocked the gates of the Zawiya Oil Refining Company (Zawiya Refinery) and the Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. This action prevented employees and technicians from entering the facilities, disrupted the handover of night shifts required for ongoing operational work, and prevented students at the Zawiya Oil Training Institute from attending classes.

Although the gate to the Brega Petroleum Marketing Company was subsequently partially reopened, the main gate to the Zawiya Refinery remains closed. As a result, the facility does not meet the safety and occupational health standards required within the oil sector for the proper and optimal resumption of operations.

These developments coincide with the continued closure of Valve No. 7 in the Hamada area, located on the Sharara crude oil pipeline, by personnel from the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) in the southwest region, together with an armed group. This has halted the flow of crude oil from the Sharara field (operated by Akakus Oil Operations) to the port of Zawiya. The resulting daily production loss has reached approximately 130,000 barrels and is expected to increase if the shutdown persists.

NOC emphasizes that this closure exposes all operations at the oil complex to unpredictable technical, operational, and security risks. It violates public safety standards, threatens severe damage to critical facilities and equipment, and jeopardizes refining operations and oil supplies. The NOC warns that any continuation of this obstruction will lead to a complete paralysis of operational activities within the complex.

Such a disruption will have a direct and immediate impact on fuel supplies and state revenues. It will also disrupt the import and distribution of petroleum products to the domestic market; thus, will increase supply costs and worsen the daily hardships faced by citizens.

The NOC calls on those responsible for the blockade to act with reason and wisdom, to prioritize the national interest, to lift the blockade immediately, and to allow technical, operational, and administrative staff to resume their duties. It also urges the relevant authorities and security agencies to fulfill their national and legal responsibilities by protecting oil facilities and ensuring the safety of personnel, so that these sites remain insulated from political disputes or factional demands.

The NOC reiterates that oil and its vital infrastructure belong to all Libyan people, and that ensuring their continued operation protects national assets and national security. It further clarifies that, in order to honor its contractual obligations, the Board of Directors is currently preparing to declare force majeure within the coming hours if the valve is not reopened. This measure is necessary to protect the NOC’s assets and those of its partners and to prevent the Libyan state from incurring significant financial penalties.

National Oil Corporation
Tripoli, September 22, 2026