Total Begins Restart of La Mede Refinery

Total has begun the restart of its 153,000 barrel per day La Mede refinery in the south of France, the company said on Wednesday.

 

"We're taking preliminary steps to restart our La Mede plant in southern France," a spokesman said. "Our installations will gradually move towards normal activity during the month of August."

 

The refinery shut down in early June due to strike action from the CGT union, which was protesting the company's plan for the site.

 

Total announced earlier this year that it intended to stop crude oil processing there by the end of 2016 as demand for petroleum products declines in Europe.

 

It intends to convert the units into a biorefinery and keep 250 of 430 jobs.


(Reporting by Libby George; editing by Jason Neely)