Regional update: Downstream news from Europe

France

The status of France’s 12 refineries following the end of the pension strikes are as follows:

• Total: Gonfreville refinery, early stages of restart on 29^th October: Donges refinery, still halted on 29^th October: La Mede refinery, first stages of restart on 27^th October: Feyzin refiner, still halted on 29^th October: Grandpuits refinery, still halted on 29^th October.
• ExxonMobil: Gravenchon refiner, early stages of restart on 29^th October: Fos refinery, running on minimum supply.
• Ineos: Lavera refinery, receiving first cargo for restart.
• Petroplus: Petit Couronne refinery, early stages of restart on 27^th October: Reichstett refinery, some production halted: Cressier refinery, limited shutdown.
• LyondellBasell: Berre refinery, restarting crude units and accepting first cargo.

Russia

It has been reported that during September, Russian refineries were processing at almost record levels. Facilities processed on average 5.13 million bpd and Russia was pumping on average 10.16 million bpd. 

Russia has launched phase one of three of the construction of its first refinery since the Soviet era. The facility, to be located in Tatarstan will process around 140,000 bpd and will cost approximately US$ 6 billion.

Switzerland

Petroplus Holdings AG is in the process of shutting down the Cressier refinery. The 60,000 bpd facility will be offline for an unspecified period as a consequence of the strikes in France which ended last week.

Turkey

OMV, based in Austria, is raising its stake in Turkey’s Petrol Ofisi to 95.75%. The company is also looking to increase its activity in the Turkish oil and gas industry further by investing in the Ceyhan refinery. 

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/04112010/europe_hydrocarbon_processing_update/