Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) said the incident occurred at the gas processing facility after an explosion involving a fuel-gas line supplying steam boilers. Preliminary information indicated that a gas leak may have triggered the incident.
Emergency and firefighting teams brought the blaze under control, isolated the gas lines and secured the site. The entire plant was shut down as a precaution.
The NOC said the incident had not disrupted domestic gas supplies or crude oil production, while other operations at Sirte Oil Company continued normally. Repairs are expected to take at least two weeks, according to NOC Chairman Massoud Soleman.
The chairman also warned that delays in approving and releasing maintenance budgets had postponed essential repairs and equipment overhauls, potentially increasing the risk of more serious industrial accidents.
The incident highlights the importance of regular maintenance and effective safety systems in Libya's energy sector, where technical challenges and prolonged funding delays have affected operations.
Authorities have brought the immediate emergency under control, but the circumstances surrounding the explosion underline the need for continued attention to worker safety and the condition of critical energy infrastructure.
