LyondellBasell’s refining, petrochem units near Fos-Lavera oil terminal operating as planned

11-Oct-10

LyondellBasell Industries' 105,000 bpd Berre l'Etang refining and petrochemicals units, located in southern France near Fos-Lavera oil terminal, are operating as planned. Regarding demurrage costs for LyondellBasell Industries’ tankers, a company spokesperson said shipment details cannot be discussed for safety and security reasons. A 13 day long strike has blocked sea access to the Fos-Lavera oil port, the world’s third-biggest port with annual traffic of around 60 mln metric tons. The action against local implementation of a national harbor reform is preventing the unloading of 51 ships including 11 natural gas tankers, 19 crude oil tankers, 15 refined oil products tankers, three chemical products tankers and three barges. Refineries situated in the Fos-Lavera region include Total SA’s 158,000 bpd La Mede refinery, Exxon Mobil Corp’s 119,000 bpd Fos-sur-Mer plant, LyondellBasell Industries’ Berre l’Etang refinery, and Ineos PLC’s 207,000 bpd Lavera plant.