MOSCOW (MRC) -- Libya's oil infrastructure has once again found itself in the crosshairs of the country's prolonged civil conflict between the UN-backed Government of National Accord and the self-styled Libyan National Army, as per S&P Global.
The country's 120,000 b/d Zawiya refinery was the target of an airstrike on 27 December, 2019, and state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed that sites near the oil storage facility operated by the Zawiya refinery were hit by a bomb on Friday.
A source close to the matter said, however, that operations at the refinery were not affected by the strikes in late December.
NOC said the airstrike targeted a storage warehouse west of Zawiya refinery gate but no casualties were reported.
Sources told S&P Global Platts that the airstrikes were carried out by the LNA as it is making its way to capture western parts of Libya like Zawiya, Tripoli and Misrata which are still not under its control.
"Targeting the refinery is a war crime. If the refinery is damaged it will deprive vital facilities including hospitals, and power and desalination plants of fuel," NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said.
"It will require additional gasoline and diesel imports, costing the Libyan people tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. The repetition of these absurd actions will lead to human and material losses and environmental disasters."
Oil infrastructure in western Libya is a key risk, especially the town of Zawiya, which is home to a 300,000 b/d export terminal and a 120,000 b/d refinery, along with Sabratha, where the Mellitah gas and condensate terminal is located. In late-November, Libya's El Feel field in the southwest of the country was briefly shut due to military action around the facility.
Political tensions are ratcheting up in Libya. Despite a protracted conflict in the North African country, production remains high, though supply disruptions could reappear.
The UN-backed Government of National Accord has called for Turkish military troops to assist it in the battle against the self-styled Libyan National Army, which has now entered into its ninth month.
Libya's fragile peace, which has seen oil production recover to above 1 million b/d, could soon end. Analysts believe there could be several clashes between LNA and various rivals groups and militias including forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord which could spill to the country's lucrative oil and gas sector.
Almost all of Libya's key oil terminals and infrastructure, especially those in the east of the country, are already controlled by General Khalifa Haftar's LNA.
The country's oil industry has been at the mercy of groups vying for control of valuable assets, with armed attacks on key pipelines and production facilities since the 2011 civil war.
NOC also renewed its call to all warring parties to stay away from its sites, and not to harm the only source of income for the Libyans.
Libyan crude production averaged 1.05 million b/d this year, according to Platts estimates, compared to 950,000 b/d and 810,000 b/d in 2018 and 2017 respectively.
MRC