In brief
Libya’s National Oil Corporation halted pumping from the Hamada oil fields to the Zawiya refinery after an armed group shut a valve on the main pipeline. The sudden shutdown triggered a pressure spike that could jeopardise facility safety and result in approximately 15,000 barrels of crude being lost each day. The NOC has called on authorities to reopen the valve and resume pumping promptly.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced Friday that crude pumping from the Hamada oil fields to the Zawiya refinery was suspended after an armed group shut a valve on the main pipeline.
The Hamada‑to‑Zawiya pipeline carries crude from northwestern inland fields to the coastal refinery west of Tripoli. The valve closure caused a sharp spike in pressure, forcing NOC technical teams to stop pumping to safeguard the facility.
According to the NOC, an unchecked pressure rise could have resulted in the loss of about 15,000 barrels of crude per day. That figure represents a significant production gap for Libya’s oil output.
In a statement, the NOC urged relevant authorities to take urgent measures to reopen the valve and resume pumping. “We need to protect our oil facilities from attacks that threaten production and supply continuity,” the statement added.
The NOC highlighted that the interruption also affects the Zawiya refinery’s supply chain, potentially disrupting local fuel processing for nearby communities and the national market.
Officials have promised to investigate the incident and restore the valve’s operation as soon as possible to prevent further loss of production and maintain supply stability.
Security assessments are underway to identify the group responsible and to prevent future pipeline disruptions. The NOC stresses cooperation between security and oil sector units to safeguard infrastructure from armed attacks.
