Drones Hit Libya’s Biggest Working Refinery as Oil Output Nears a 13-Year High

At least five drone strikes targeted Libya's Zawiya oil refinery complex between 9 and 11 August 2026, causing significant damage. One drone hit tank T402 at the Brega depot, holding approximately 4.5 million litres of petrol, leading the tank to burst into flames and collapse completely. The blaze burned throughout the night and into Tuesday afternoon.

A separate drone attack on Wednesday destroyed an electrical substation in Zawiya, cutting power to southern areas. The National Oil Corporation expressed concern over the repeated strikes, warning it would declare force majeure and halt the refinery's operations entirely if the attacks continued. Zawiya is Libya's largest still-operating refinery, processing 120,000 barrels a day and serving the greater Tripoli area.

The refinery is connected to the Sharara field, which has a production capacity of 300,000 barrels a day. Libya's oil production reached 1.44 million barrels a day in June 2026, its highest level since 2013, with the NOC chairman reporting around 1.4 million barrels a day in early August. Pre-war production was approximately 1.6 million barrels a day, with a stated target of 2 million barrels by the early 2030s.

The country has Africa's largest proven oil reserves, and international majors have returned to the market. However, the strikes coincide with rising tension between the Tripoli government and armed groups in Zawiya, as well as an unsettled central bank leadership situation. No group has claimed responsibility for the strikes, making it difficult to negotiate, deter, or sanction the attacks.