ROTTERDAM: The massive Shell refinery in Rotterdam’s port area will remain closed until mid August at least after last weekend’s huge fire, the company has told news agency AFP.
The Pernis refinery is capable of processing 400,000 barrels of petroleum products a day and is said to be the biggest refinery in Europe. There are 60 factories on the site. The fire broke out on Saturday evening and was brought under control on Sunday.
However, Pernis was hit by a second incident on Monday, in which there was a hydrogen fluoride leak. Both incidents are now being investigated. ‘We expect to restart operations at the earliest in the second half of August,’ the spokesman told AFP.
The company has not yet commented on the likely impact of the closure on petroleum product prices.
