Brega Petroleum Marketing Company has said that fuel smuggling, congestion at petrol stations and transportation delays in Libya are linked to overlapping security, operational and logistical challenges, amid continued public frustration over long queues in several western cities.
In a statement, the company explained that the country’s fuel distribution system depends on coordinated roles between several institutions involved in importing, storing and distributing petroleum products.
Brega said the National Oil Corporation and relevant authorities are responsible for arranging fuel imports, while Brega oversees the receipt of shipments, storage operations and the allocation of fuel quantities to distribution companies.
The company added that distribution firms are then tasked with transporting fuel to petrol stations and supervising station operations.
Brega stressed that congestion at some fuel stations does not necessarily indicate a shortage in fuel supplies, noting that import, withdrawal and distribution operations continue daily and in large quantities across the country.
The statement comes as western Libyan cities, including Tripoli, Zawiya and nearby coastal areas, continue to witness severe overcrowding at petrol stations, with motorists reporting long waiting times to obtain fuel.
The company acknowledged that smuggling activities and transportation difficulties remain among the key factors affecting market stability, adding that these files are being addressed in coordination with the Fuel and Petroleum Derivatives Monitoring Committee التابعة to the Interior Ministry, as well as security and oversight agencies.
Brega also reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and cooperation with all relevant authorities to ensure stable fuel supplies and reduce congestion during peak demand periods.
Libya, despite holding Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, has faced recurring fuel distribution crises for years. Local and international reports have repeatedly linked shortages and market instability to fuel smuggling networks that exploit heavily subsidised fuel prices.
Authorities in western Libya have recently intensified monitoring campaigns and threatened legal action against those involved in fuel hoarding, black market sales and smuggling operations, following rising public anger over the worsening queues at petrol stations.
