Total is considering the conversion of its Grandpuits oil refinery to a biorefinery, French labour union CGT said. In the autumn, Total will make a final decision about this.
Similar to Total's former 160,000 b/d refinery at La Mede, the possible conversion of the plant to produce hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) raised by Total's European refining and chemicals director Michel Charton. Because of long-standing problems with the pipeline that provides around 90 percent of its crude feedstock, Total is considering the future of Grandpuits.
The cost of repairing the 260km Pipeline d'Ile de France (Plif) is an initial $285 million-340 million, Charton said. Plif connects the plant with the Atlantic port of Le Havre. The cost of a planned full turnaround at Grandpuits will inform Total's decision.
