The National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya announced on Friday that it had suspended the pumping of crude oil from the Hamada fields to the Zawiya refinery after an armed group forcibly shut a valve on the main pipeline. The closure caused a sharp pressure spike in the system, prompting technical teams to halt operations in order to protect the safety of the refinery and surrounding infrastructure.
According to Xinhua, the NOC’s statement notes that the main pipeline carries oil from the northwestern inland fields of Hamada to the Zawiya refinery on Libya’s northwest coast, west of Tripoli. The sudden shutdown of the valve left the pipe under pressure, “forcing technical teams to stop pumping to ensure facility safety.” The NOC further warned that the continued closure would result in the loss of around 15,000 barrels of crude per day.
In a separate statement, the head of the NOC told Reuters that the company had called on relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to reopen the valve and resume pumping “as soon as possible.” The NOC reiterated that protecting oil facilities from attacks is essential to sustaining production and ensuring supply continuity across the country.
The incident represents the second time this month that oil flows to Zawiya have been halted by an armed group, according to a brief report that appeared in the same news briefing on the day. The recurring nature of these disruptions highlights an ongoing security issue that threatens Libya’s oil supply chain and the stability of the national economy.
Recurrent Pipeline Disruptions Threaten National Infrastructure
Each interruption not only interrupts the flow of crude to a major refining hub but also poses an economic risk. Losing an estimated 15,000 barrels per day from a single pipeline equates to a significant reduction in export potential and could affect the availability of refined petroleum products across the region. For a country that relies heavily on oil revenue, such losses have broader implications for public services, employment, and fiscal stability.
Given the importance of the Zawiya refinery to the country’s energy framework, the NOC’s appeal to authorities underscores the need for a coordinated security and regulatory response. The agency’s call for action signals a demand for accountability and stronger protective measures against armed interference in critical infrastructure.
With ongoing political fragmentation and armed factions operating across various regions, Libya’s oil sector remains vulnerable to similar incidents. The repeated halting of pipeline flow stands as a stark reminder of how political unrest and armed conflict can directly impair the functioning of vital national institutions and the public’s access to essential resources.
