Libya's largest functioning oil refinery has resumed full operations after fighting over the past two days forced a shutdown of the facility, according to a statement by the refinery.

The development came after an emergency was declared following fighting near the facility in Zawiya on Friday. The refinery, about 40 km west of Tripoli, has a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) and is connected to the 300,000-bpd Sharara oilfield.

Operator Azzawiya Oil Refining Company said it was forced to shut the plant completely and evacuate all tankers from the port when heavy shelling struck multiple locations inside the facility. Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said several high-calibre projectiles landed in various parts of the oil complex but no significant damage was reported.

Fighting intensified and spread into the residential area adjacent to the refinery, increasing risks. NOC said fuel supplies to Tripoli and surrounding areas were not affected. Zawiya's security directorate described a “security operation against outlaws”.

Libya has been plagued by unrest since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Zawiya has seen repeated fighting that has at times forced the closure of the coastal road to the Tunisian border.

Source: www.aljazeera.com