Total SA Stops Crude Unit for Maintenance

Total SA (www.total.com) has initiated a maintenance, repair and modernization shutdown on the crude oil unit at its Dutch refinery, according to a report by Bloomberg (www.bloomberg.com). The shutdown at Total’s Vlissingen-based plant will halt crude distillation at the facility until approximately Dec. 10, as the company performs maintenance and replaces parts.

The refinery, which can process 9.5 million metric tons a year of oil, or about 190,000 barrels a day, will also shut in May for major maintenance, Total said. The refinery is jointly run with U.S.-based Dow Chemical Co.