By Ukumbi Afrika 
Saturday, 8th August 2026
TRIPOLI— A drone crashed into an untreated naphtha tank at Libya’s Zawia refinery early on Saturday, causing a leak that refinery staff have since brought under control, the Zawia Oil Refinery Company said.
The company said there was no fire and no casualties following the incident.
It warned, however, about the risks posed by the presence of military equipment in the vicinity of the refinery, highlighting continued security concerns around critical energy infrastructure.
The Zawia refinery, located west of Tripoli, is an important component of Libya’s petroleum infrastructure, supplying refined fuel products to the domestic market.
The incident comes as Libya’s oil and gas facilities remain strategically important to the country’s economy, with security risks continuing to pose potential disruptions to energy operations.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A drone crashed into an untreated naphtha tank at the Zawia refinery.
The resulting leak has been brought under control.
No fire was reported.
No casualties were reported.
The refinery operator warned about the risks associated with military equipment near the facility.
Source: Reuters
Reporting: Ayman al-Warfalli
Writing: Nafisa Eltahir
Editing: Barbara Lewis