The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced, on Friday, October 30, 2026, that an armed group had closed a valve on the main crude oil transport pipeline located in the Rayayna region, linking the Hamada oil field to the Zaouïa refinery. This intervention led to the stoppage of pumping operations and the disruption of crude oil supply.
The company warned that maintaining this closure could result in the loss of about 15,000 barrels of crude oil per day, intended to feed the Zaouïa refinery, while raising risks to the safety of oil facilities.
According to a statement from the NOC, the company was informed on Friday morning of the valve closure by an armed group. It noted that the affected pipeline, with a diameter of 18 inches, is one of the main infrastructures ensuring the Zaouïa refinery’s supply of crude oil necessary for refining operations.
The company added that the sudden and forced closure of the valve had caused a sharp increase in operating pressure, forcing technical teams to halt pumping in the pipeline since 00:30 Friday morning, in order to preserve the integrity of the transport lines and production facilities.
This measure led, according to the NOC, to an interruption of crude supply from the fields linked to this pipeline.
Economic risks and threats to oil facilities
The Libyan National Oil Company stressed that prolonging this closure could deprive the Zaouïa refinery of about 15,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
It stated that the incident’s consequences went beyond disruptions in deliveries and potential losses of oil volumes. The situation also poses a threat to the security of oil facilities and the continuity of the refinery’s crude supply, with possible negative repercussions on the Libyan economy.
It should be noted that the 15,000 barrels per day represent a potential loss in the event of extending the closure, and not a volume of oil whose loss has already been observed.
In its statement, the NOC renewed its condemnation of what it describes as direct attacks against oil facilities and transport infrastructure.
It called on the competent authorities, in particular the Guards of Oil Facilities, to fulfill their legal responsibilities and take the necessary measures to secure the pipeline, proceed with reopening the valve, and allow the resumption of pumping operations as soon as possible.
The company also emphasized the need to protect oil infrastructures against any attack that could compromise production stability and the continuity of oil supplies in Libya.
