World News – US – Shell to close Convent plant

CONVENT, La (WAFB) – The Shell refinery in Convent, La will begin closing later in November, the company confirmed on Thursday Nov. 5

The plant employs nearly 700 workers and 400 contract workers and opened in 1967 as a Texaco refinery

Shell says the move is part of a larger plan to cut the number of its refineries as it transforms towards a ‘low carbon future’

“Employees will be helped to find alternative positions within Shell,” the company said “Employees who are not identified for open positions or who choose to leave the company will be offered severance pay « 

The company declares that any severance pay will be negotiated for employees who are part of the union

Shell plans to consolidate its assets in six energy and chemical parks, including the Norco site near New Orleans, The Advocate newspaper reported

Other sites can be found in Deer Park, Texas; The Netherlands; Singapore; Germany; and Canada New petrochemical parks are expected to be located near existing complexes, such as Shell’s Geismar site in Ascension Parish, the newspaper reported

The refinery is designed to process nearly 240,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing unleaded gasoline and other petroleum products

« Shell has announced the closure of its Convent refinery in Louisiana This move is part of the company’s global strategy to invest in a set of uniquely integrated manufacturing sites that are also strategically positioned for the transition to a low carbon future The shutdown process will begin mid-November In July 2020, we informed staff that the Shell Convent refinery was on the market Despite efforts to sell the asset, a viable buyer was never identified After reviewing all aspects of Our business, including financial performance, we have made the difficult decision to shut down the Shell site will ensure a safe and responsible refinery shutdown with a focus on those most directly affected This includes supporting Convent employees by this difficult time by helping them apply for other opportunities within the company, or in the transition to a future outside Shell Shell will open a selective voluntary departure program at its Geismar and Norco facilities, subject to negotiations for union-represented employees, to potentially create additional roles where Convent employees can be placed. We will maintain a significant presence in Louisiana through to our integrated refining and chemicals sites in Norco and Geismar, our midstream infrastructure assets, our branded retail presence, our operations in the Gulf of Mexico and our offices in New Orleans After the process shutdown completed, we will continue to market the Convent refinery for the sale « 

St James Parish officials to hold press conference at 1 p.m. Nov 5 to address Convent refinery shutdown

Convent, Royal Dutch Shell, refinery