Australia's Viva to shut some Geelong refinery units
Australian refiner and marketer Viva Energy has started preparations to shut the residual catalytic cracker (RFCC) and associated processing units at its 128,000 b/d Geelong refinery in Victoria from early May.
Work is also planned on the smaller crude distillation unit (CDU) at the plant, although the refinery's main CDU and all other processing units will continue to operate.
Viva expects refining intake to be reduced to about 2.5mn bl/month (81,000) b/d, subject to normal refining optimisation decisions. This would be a 31pc decline from the average crude intake of 117,000 b/d in January-March and 32pc below the 2019 average of 120,000 b/d.
Geelong has reduced run rates over the last month because of lower fuel demand amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Viva said, without giving details.
Viva does not expect any disruption to fuel supply. The financial impact is likely to be immaterial, after taking into account the cost efficiencies that would flow from not operating the units, it said.
The company is reviewing plans for a major maintenance turnaround of the RFCC and associated units that is currently scheduled from late August to October. It expects to announce the outcome of its review before the end of June. The preparations to shut down the RFCC do not affect this review, it said.
Australia is facing a significant decline in demand for transportation fuels due to the impact of Covid-19, which has particularly hit [jet fuel demand] (https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2089817).
By Kevin Morrison
source: Argus Media
Top News
Glencore in talks to sell Philippine copper smelting unit
Rasul Khalife Soltani, Secretary of the Iranian Steel Producers Association on the sidelines of the 1403 Steel Symposium:
Mobarakeh steel is producing green steel through scrap recycling
Norilsk Nickel plans to sell all it produces in 2025
Volkswagen buys 9.9% of Patriot Battery Metals for $48 million
India’s record gold import said to be due to calculation error
Sibanye raises $500m via metals streaming deal with Franco-Nevada
Norge Mining acquires Europe’s largest natural graphite producer
Mercuria partners with Zambia on metals trading venture
Aluminum price falls to one-month low in wider commodity slump
Lure of Anglo’s copper mines could test BHP’s spending resolve
Copper giant Peru foresees another production plateau in 2025
Iron ore price weakens as Australia flags return to sub-$100 prices
Nickel price hits 4-year low as gloom offsets potential Indonesia cuts
Mercuria partners with Zambia on metals trading venture
Sibanye raises $500m via metals streaming deal with Franco-Nevada
Triple Flag to acquire royalty on Tres Quebradas lithium project
Volkswagen buys 9.9% of Patriot Battery Metals for $48 million
Aluminum price falls to one-month low in wider commodity slump
India’s record gold import said to be due to calculation error
Lure of Anglo’s copper mines could test BHP’s spending resolve
Iron ore price weakens as Australia flags return to sub-$100 prices
Nickel price hits 4-year low as gloom offsets potential Indonesia cuts
Sibanye raises $500m via metals streaming deal with Franco-Nevada
Triple Flag to acquire royalty on Tres Quebradas lithium project
Volkswagen buys 9.9% of Patriot Battery Metals for $48 million
Aluminum price falls to one-month low in wider commodity slump
India’s record gold import said to be due to calculation error
Glencore in talks to sell Philippine copper smelting unit
