Zawia Oil Refining Company
A Libyan state-owned oil-refining company operating the Zawiya Refinery and its associated oil terminal.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Zawia Oil Refining Company, commonly abbreviated as ARC, is a Libyan oil-refining enterprise and a subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation, Libya's national petroleum company. The company was incorporated under Libyan commercial law in 1976, while the refinery it operates began production in 1974. Located near Zawiya in northwestern Libya, the facility is one of the country's principal downstream petroleum assets and is described as Libya's second-largest refinery after the Ra's Lanuf Refinery. The refinery was constructed by the Italian engineering company Snamprogetti. Its initial nameplate capacity was 60,000 barrels per stream day. In 1977, the stated capacity was doubled to 120,000 barrels per stream day. The plant's configuration allows it to process crude into a range of fuels, intermediate streams, and specialty petroleum products. Its principal outputs include naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, Jet A-1, light vacuum gas oil, fuel oil, base lubricating oils, and asphalt. ARC's processing system includes two naphtha hydrotreating units. These units reduce sulfur, nitrogen, and certain heavy metallic compounds in the feedstock before it is sent to catalytic reforming. Splitters associated with the hydrotreaters separate light and heavy naphtha. Heavy naphtha is processed in two platforming units, which produce reformate for gasoline blending and LPG as a by-product. The refinery also has two kerosene hydrotreaters, each reported to have a capacity of 9,650 barrels per stream day, for producing desulfurized kerosene or Jet A-1. The company's operational footprint includes the Zawia Oil Terminal, a marine facility serving the refinery. The terminal lies offshore from the refinery and includes three berths, a single-point mooring buoy, and infrastructure for loading and unloading crude oil and petroleum products. Reported berth and mooring depths allow the terminal to handle vessels ranging from smaller product carriers to tankers of approximately 100,000 and 140,000 tons, depending on the facility used. Historical traffic figures cited for the terminal recorded more than 200 oil tankers annually in several years around the early 2000s. ARC is strategically important to Libya because it contributes to domestic fuel production, petroleum-product handling, and the country's downstream energy infrastructure. Its operations are closely linked to the National Oil Corporation and to national plans for maintaining or upgrading refining capacity. Reference material states that the NOC was expected to re-tender an engineering, procurement, and construction contract for an upgrade to the Zawia refinery, although the available material does not establish the contract's subsequent award, completion, or current operating condition. No reliable public information in the supplied sources identifies a current chief executive, independent commercial ownership, stock-market listing, or separate international consumer-facing brand architecture.
History
The industrial history of Zawia Oil Refining Company is closely connected with the development of Libya's downstream petroleum sector. The Zawia refinery was built in 1974 by Snamprogetti of Italy and began production with a nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day. The facility was subsequently expanded, and by 1977 its stated capacity had doubled to 120,000 barrels per stream day. ARC itself was incorporated under Libyan commercial law in 1976, placing the company's formal corporate establishment between the refinery's commissioning and its early capacity expansion. The refinery's role is to convert crude oil into fuels, blending components, intermediate streams, lubricants, and other petroleum products for the Libyan market. Its principal product slate includes naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, Jet A-1, light vacuum gas oil, fuel oil, base lubricating oils, and asphalt. The processing configuration includes naphtha hydrotreating, naphtha splitting, catalytic reforming, and kerosene hydrotreating. Hydrotreating reduces sulfur and other contaminants, while catalytic reforming produces reformate used in gasoline blending. LPG is identified as a by-product of the platforming process. ARC operates as a subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation. This relationship places the refinery within Libya's state petroleum system rather than within a privately controlled or publicly traded corporate group. The available reference material does not provide a complete chronology of management changes, investment awards, production interruptions, or post-2000 modernization results, so those aspects cannot be established here. The company also operates the Zawia Oil Terminal, the marine outlet associated with the refinery. The terminal is situated on Libya's northwestern coast and has three offshore berths, as well as a single-point mooring buoy. The cited specifications indicate that the terminal can accommodate large crude or product tankers at deeper mooring positions and smaller product vessels at a separate berth. Historical statistics reported 195 tanker calls in 2000, 213 in 2001, and 215 in 2002, illustrating the terminal's importance to refinery supply and product distribution during that period. Modernization has been a recurring strategic consideration. Reference material states that the National Oil Corporation was expected to re-tender an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to upgrade the Zawia refinery. The supplied sources do not confirm whether that tender was completed, which contractors participated, what investment was authorized, or whether the proposed work materially changed capacity. Accordingly, the documented history supports ARC's identity as a major Libyan refining and terminal operator, but does not support definitive claims about its current throughput, financial performance, management, or the status of proposed upgrades.
- 2002
Terminal records more than 200 tanker calls
[1]The terminal is reported to have received 215 tanker calls, continuing the level of activity documented in the preceding years.
- 2001
Terminal tanker calls increase
[1]The terminal is reported to have received 213 tanker calls.
- 2000
Historical terminal traffic recorded
[1]The Zawia Oil Terminal is reported to have received 195 tanker calls during the year.
- 1977
Refinery capacity doubled
[1]The refinery's stated nameplate capacity increases from 60,000 to 120,000 barrels per stream day.
- 1976
Company incorporated under Libyan commercial law
[1]Zawia Oil Refining Company is incorporated as a Libyan company and becomes associated with the operation of the Zawia refinery.
- 1974
Zawia refinery begins production
[1]The refinery built by Snamprogetti begins operations with a stated nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day.
Products and positioning
A state-owned Libyan downstream petroleum operator focused on domestic refining, fuel production, petroleum-product logistics, and operation of the Zawia marine terminal.
Motor fuels and blending components
Gasoline and reformate
The refinery produces gasoline and reformate used as a gasoline-blending component. Heavy naphtha is processed in catalytic platforming units after treatment and separation. The reforming process also generates LPG as a by-product. The available sources identify these products as part of the refinery's principal output slate but do not provide current grades, volumes, or retail distribution arrangements.
Aviation and middle-distillate fuels
Kerosene and Jet A-1
Two kerosene hydrotreaters are used to produce desulfurized kerosene or Jet A-1. Each unit is reported to have a capacity of 9,650 barrels per stream day. The treatment process is intended to reduce contaminants and prepare the kerosene stream for fuel use, although the supplied material does not specify current production levels or aviation customers.
Refinery intermediate
Naphtha
Naphtha is one of the refinery's primary outputs and is handled through two hydrotreaters and associated splitters. The hydrotreaters reduce sulfur, nitrogen, and heavy metallic compounds, while the splitters separate light and heavy naphtha. Heavy naphtha is directed to catalytic reforming, making this stream an important input to gasoline-component production.
Heavy and intermediate petroleum products
Light vacuum gas oil and fuel oil
Light vacuum gas oil and fuel oil are included among the refinery's documented petroleum products. These streams support industrial, blending, and energy-market uses, with handling facilitated by the associated Zawia Oil Terminal. The available references do not establish current specifications, annual volumes, or the proportion of output represented by either product.
Specialty and construction petroleum products
Base lubricating oils and asphalt
Base lubricating oils and asphalt are identified as additional products of the Zawia refinery. Base oils serve as feedstock for lubricant formulation, while asphalt is used in paving and related construction applications. The supplied source material confirms their place in the product slate but does not provide brand names, grades, packaging formats, or current commercial availability.
Brand decisions
1977
Expansion of refinery capacityStrategyBackground
The refinery began with a stated capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day and required additional capacity to serve Libya's downstream petroleum needs.
Action taken
Capacity was doubled to 120,000 barrels per stream day.
Aftermath
The expansion established Zawia as one of Libya's largest refining facilities, although the supplied sources do not quantify subsequent actual throughput.
- Proposed refinery upgrade re-tenderStrategy
Background
The National Oil Corporation identified the need to upgrade the Zawia refinery and was expected to re-tender an engineering, procurement, and construction contract.
Action taken
A new tender for refinery-upgrade engineering, procurement, and construction work was expected.
Aftermath
The supplied sources do not confirm the tender outcome, contractor selection, project completion, or effect on refinery capacity.
Sources1 sources
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