Major European Refinery Malfunctions, Worsening Fuel Supply Situation

Major European Refinery Malfunctions, Worsening Fuel Supply Situation
Shell oil refinery in Pernis, Netherlands, on Nov. 15, 2021. Robin Utrecht/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
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Shell plc’s Pernis refinery in the Netherlands, the biggest refinery in Europe, has been shut down due to a malfunction, complicating an already tight fuel supply situation in the region.

On Oct. 12, the compressor of fluid catalytic cracker unit 2 tripped due to a loss of power supply, Bloomberg reported. The plant, located near Rotterdam, is a conversion facility that is usually used to produce refined products like gasoline, and is a key diesel supplier in Europe. The malfunction resulted in flaring of high amounts of gas, which led to 200 complaints being filed by residents of the region.