TRIPOLI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Zawiya Oil Refining Company announced a full shutdown of the Zawiya refinery and the evacuation of oil tankers from its port on Friday, following armed clashes near the oil complex in the city of Zawiya.
In a statement, the company said the surrounding area has witnessed heavy exchanges of fire since the early hours of Friday, with several heavy shells landing inside the company's facilities, including operational areas.
The deteriorating security situation forced the company to take "urgent and emergency measures," including shutting down the refinery and evacuating the port, to protect employees, oil installations and the environment, it said.
The company called on all conflicting parties to immediately cease fire and urged state authorities to keep military operations away from vital facilities.
It confirmed that an emergency has been activated at the refinery.
Located about 60 km west of the capital Tripoli, the Zawiya refinery is one of the largest in western Libya, with a refining capacity of about 120,000 barrels per day. It receives crude oil through the Hamada-Zawiya pipeline linking southern and western oil fields, and includes an oil port for receiving tankers and exporting products, making it a key fuel supply hub for Libya's domestic market, especially in the west.
The refinery has experienced several partial and full shutdowns in recent years due to armed clashes and security tensions in the city. ■