The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) has confirmed that Al-Zawiya Oil Complex was severely damaged as a result of “skirmishes by armed groups” in the vicinity of the complex for nearly three hours on Tuesday night.
The NOC said in a statement that those involved in the armed clashes held no regard for the lives of workers at the sites or to the damage that may have caused to the capabilities of the Libyan state and the livelihoods of citizens there.
“Statistics so far indicate that these criminal operations have led to: 1- Damage of eight storage tanks for petroleum products and crude oil in the oil movement area. 2- Damage to five storage tanks for base oils and chemical additives in a mineral oil mixing and filling plant, which resulted in the leakage of large quantities from tank No. (T9) for storing base oil (SN150). 3- Damage to the electrical transformer which is the source of power for the main station for the oil mixing and filling factory. 4- Damage to the ceilings of the halls of the manufacturing lines in the oil mixing and filling plant.” NOC outlined.
It added that inspections on all production units of the company are ongoing to determine the extent of the damage resulting from these irresponsible actions.
In the meantime, the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Sanalla, was quoted as saying that “Such criminal acts cannot be accepted in or near our sites.”
Sanalla added that many of NOC facilities had been sabotaged during the past years as a result of clashes, but those damaged sites had been renovated and returned to work.
“It may take years to repair these new damages, and could cost the Libyan state an exponential amount of money, which is difficult to obtain.” Sanalla added.
He added that the infrastructure of the oil sector represents the lifeblood of the Libyan state. Therefore, vandalizing these facilities, destroying them, or exposing their workers to danger, is a crime that cannot be tolerated.
“Therefore, we ask the respective authorities to extend their security in and around these sites, protect our workers, and provide security requirements to ensure we continue our operations there”. Sanalla concluded.
