Explosion at power station in Zawiya, Libya

An explosion occurred on Saturday evening, August 15, 2026, at the Al-Harsha power station near Zawiya, located west of Tripoli, Libya. The incident forced the state-owned General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) to shut down several operational units, resulting in power disruptions. PressTV reported that the explosion followed a drone strike on the facility, though GECOL has officially stated that technical teams are currently investigating the precise cause of the blast while working to restore electricity gradually.

This incident follows a series of security challenges in the Zawiya region. Recently, an attack on a local substation caused power outages in the city and surrounding southern areas. Furthermore, unknown assailants targeted critical oil infrastructure just days earlier, damaging a large fuel tank at the country’s largest oil refinery. These attacks occur against a backdrop of escalating tensions in Libya, characterized by clashes between rival factions, political disputes over the control of the Central Bank and oil resources, and frequent infrastructure sabotage.