Gunvor suspends turnaround works at Rotterdam refinery

Gunvor Petroleum Rotterdam BV (GPR), a subsidiary of Gunvor Group Ltd., Geneva, has indefinitely delayed works related to a major turnaround that began earlier in March at its 88,000-b/d refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The spread of COVID-19 combined with various regulations and strict safety measures have resulted in a situation that makes it impossible to carry out the original planned work in a way that would guarantee the health and safety of all involved in the turnaround event, the operator said in a Mar. 25 release.

Demobilization procedures at the refinery are now under way, according to the operator.

GPR, which confirmed start of the Rotterdam refinery’s 2020 turnaround in an early March post to its official LinkedIn page, said the planned maintenance event would involve shutting down existing units to carry out inspections, conduct routine maintenance, and implement improvements where necessary.

The turnaround—which was to require about 2,500 additional employees at the site to complete—also was to include execution of other unidentified projects related to the operator’s G2030 strategy, which focuses on a transition to more sustainable products and production processes in response to changing environmental legislation and increasing demand for renewable motor fuels, GPR said.