Clyde. Refinery to close

Royal Dutch plans to convert its relatively small the Clyde Refinery and Gore Bay Terminal Clyde into a fuel import terminal by mid-2013, in an expected decision in lines with plans announced April. The final decision followed consultation with employees and their representatives, Shell said. The move will cut the number of local refineries from nine eight years ago to seven, with Shell saying the ageing Clyde refinery that supplies 40 per cent of NSW's petrol could not compete with giant, new Asian refineries. The refinery produces 75,000 barrel per day. Including contractors, up to 500 jobs are at risk, unions said. The company said between 30 and 50 people would be required to continue working at the site once it had been transformed into a fuel-importing terminal