Total is considering the conversion of its oil refinery in Grandpuits into an HVO biorefinery

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

Total is considering the conversion of its oil refinery in Grandpuits into an HVO biorefinery. A final decision will be made this fall.
News (Reuters): “Total reviewing pipeline to Grandpuits oil refinery after leaks”, 12/6/2020.
News (Argus): “Total mulling Grandpuits biorefinery conversion: Update”, 12/6/2020.
Related post: “Total ready to start-up its HVO biorefinery in La Mède”, 5/6/2019.

Figure 1. Oil refinery of Total in Grandpuits

Total is weighing the future of Grandpuits because of ongoing problems with the 260-km pipeline that connects the plant with the Atlantic port of Le Havre and provides 90% of its crude feedstock. Last year, following a previous spillage in 2014, halted output at the refinery for several months. The facility went offline again in March for maintenance, with the outage extended to the beginning of June due to the coronavirus epidemic. The longer-term future of Grandpuits rests on the viability of the pipeline that is only operating at 70% of capacity.

The cost of replacing the pipeline is estimated at 250-350 M€. Faced with such potential cost, Total is considering low-carbon activities for Grandpuits as an alternative to crude oil refining. The company is assessing the possible conversion of the plant to produce HVO, in a similar way to Total's former refinery at La Mede. Carbon capture and bioplastics are other possibilities.

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