Libyan state oilfirm NOC is considering the closure of its western Zawiya port andevacuating staff from the refinery located there due to clashes nearby, astatement said on Saturday.
NOC might also shutdown the El Sharara oilfield, whose crude is exported via Zawiya port,the statement said.
Clashes betweenarmed groups have broken out in recent days around Zawiya, during which amissile almost hit the oil complex. Forces allied to Libya's internationallyrecognised government on Friday accused eastern forces loyal to Khalifa Haftarof having tried to strike the oil port complex.
Haftar's forceshave been trying to take the capital Tripoli, 40 kms east of Zawiya, in acampaign since April.
Zawiya is Libya'sbiggest functioning refinery, serving the capital Tripoli located some 40kmeast as well as regions in the west and south of the country. Two workers atZawiya port said the refinery was working on Saturday.
On Thursday an airstrike blamed by local officials on Haftar's forces hit a pharmacy in Zawiyatown, killing two people.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday he would send troops to Libya at the request of Tripoli as soon as next month, putting the North African country's conflict at the centre of wider regional frictions.
