REFINERY NEWS ROUNDUP: Some maintenance ends in Europe, TAL shipments resume
Some maintenance has finished in Europe with refineries restarting but temporary closures remain in force at a number of plants, both full and partial.
The International Energy Agency expects improved oil products demand next year to result in 500,000 b/d higher throughput at European refiners after a 1.5 million b/d decline in 2020, with runs expected to remain below Q3 2020 levels until Q3 2021.
Separately, the Trans-Alpine pipeline (TAL), which ships crude oil from the Italian port of Trieste to refineries in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, resumed operations the morning of Dec. 11 after problems due to heavy snow in the Alps through which it runs, according to sources. The pipeline had stopped shipping crude as power supply to a pumping station in Austria was cut, Germany’s Bild newspaper reported. Miro, whose refinery in Karlsruhe is one of those that receives crude via TAL, said that foll