Zawiya refinery shut down in ‘precautionary measure’ as emergency declared following explosions and gunfire nearby. Published On 8 May 20268 May 2026 Libya’s largest operational oil refinery at Zawiya has been shut down and ‌an emergency declared following fighting between armed groups nearby. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Zawiya Refining Company announced a “precautionary halt” to operations and evacuated employees from the oil complex and port. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list NOC confirmed the safety of all employees and added that fuel supplies would continue as normal. A Facebook statement said alarm sirens were activated “following armed clashes involving heavy weapons that erupted around the oil complex in the early hours of Friday”. “These clashes resulted in several heavy weapons projectiles landing in various locations within the oil complex,” adding that no significant damage had been reported. “However, the clashes have intensified and reached the residential area adjacent to the refinery, making the area a direct target for heavy shelling and significantly increasing the risk of further damage,” it said. Authorities …