Exxon plans one month complete turnaround in May 2010

04-Sep-09

Exxon Mobil Corp has planned a one month long complete maintenance shutdown at its 296,000 bpd Singapore refinery. Shutdown is planned in May 2010 at the smaller of its two facilities at Jurong Island nd includes taking down in stages both the plant's crude distillation units (CDUs). The turnaround is not expected to impact the middle distillates market weakening since the beginning of the year. Exxon would simply need to increase run rate at its other plant to cope with current weak demand conditions. But this scenario could alter if demand id to perk up by May 2010, especially if the winter is harsher than usual. The light-distillate market is expected to be little changed as Exxon's gasoline and naphtha barrels are moved within its own global system.