The National Oil Corporation (NOC) opened an investigation into a bombing at Zawiya oil refinery, western Tripoli, according to an NOC statement Thursday.
On Monday, a suspected improvised explosive device went off at the office of the team overseeing the second phase of the refinery’s development, but no staff were injured. No one has claimed responsibility thus far.
Hence, the NOC convened an emergency meeting at the headquarters of the Azzawiya Oil Refining Company (ARC), a subsidiary of the NOC, with the NOC’s Industrial Security Department, management from ARC and Akakus Oil Operations as well as officials from the Petroleum Facilities Guard, security services, and the local municipal council.
During the meeting, they agreed on improving security procedures, including the establishment of a joint security operations room, and the upgrade of monitoring, technology and communication protocols.
“NOC strongly condemns all attempts to intimidate and endanger oil sector workers. The corporation will exhaust all necessary legal means to pursue those behind this attack,” the statement concluded.
The explosion of Zawiya oil refinery came amid the ongoing war in the western region between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of the National Accord (GNA) backed by armed groups.
