EXPLOSION AT ZAWIYA POWER PLANT SHUTS DOWN GENERATING UNITS WEST OF TRIPOLI

A devastating blast hits the key energy hub following a series of drone strikes, threatening wide-scale power grid collapse across western Libya.

Firefighters work to contain a fire at the Zawiya oil refinery following a drone strike in Zawiya, Libya, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad)

TRIPOLI, LIBYA : An explosion near the primary power station in the strategic coastal city of Zawiya, located approximately 45 kilometers west of Tripoli, knocked multiple generating units offline, triggering severe electricity disruptions across western Libya. State-run operator General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL Portal) confirmed that technical teams responded to the site to investigate the explosion's cause while working to restore power supply to the national grid.

The incident follows a wave of armed drone strikes targeting vital energy and utility installations across the region. Earlier, an attack completely destroyed the South Zawiya 30/11 kV transmission substation, causing widespread blackouts across southern districts of the city. The escalation has extended beyond power infrastructure to encompass major petroleum facilities managed by the National Oil Corporation, where multiple strikes damaged fuel storage tanks at the Zawiya oil complex—home to Libya's largest operating refinery.

The continuous targeting of essential utilities has raised severe concerns over grid stability across the country. With maintenance personnel facing extreme security risks and key generation facilities forced offline, GECOL officials have warned that persistent attacks on power plants and substations could risk triggering partial or total blackouts across the national network.