Europe’s fuel production is at risk due to intense heat: Bloomberg
The design of European oil refineries took place in the 60s and 70s
Temperatures in Europe are approaching the level at which some refineries will be forced to reduce fuel production. The temperature is already well above the seasonal norm, and there are no signs of a decrease in the near future, informs Bloomberg.
Sweden’s largest oil refinery already says climate change is making fuel production more difficult. In Poland, the heat may soon exceed the limit at which the country’s largest fuel supplier will be able to operate its refineries normally.
“European refineries were designed in the sixties and seventies. The world has become hotter since then”, – says Alan Gelder, Vice President of Oil Refining, Chemicals and Oil Markets at the consulting company Wood Mackenzie Ltd.
Refineries are adapting, adding equipment where it makes economic sense to continue generating profits, reporters said. Plants in regions more accustomed to hot weather, such as the Middle East, are better adapted to climate change. In Europe, according to the engineering company Kent Plc, oil refineries were built for low temperatures.
A change in the types of oil used by European refineries since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine has compounded the problem, but there are now signs of improvement. According to Kpler, European refiners, accustomed to light American crude, are processing heavier grades, which may help them cope with the problem:.
“Even if it’s not an all-time record like last year, if it’s just very hot weather compared to normal, you’re going to have very similar problems to last year.”, Macquarie analyst Vikas Dwivedi emphasized.
