Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.’s oil refinery in Batangas, the smaller of the two oil refineries in the country, has resumed normal operations after a controlled shutdown following the April 8 earthquake that struck Batangas province.
“Following the controlled shutdown of the Tabangao refinery of Pilipinas Shell, SHLPH is pleased to advise that the refinery has resumed its normal operations,” Pilipinas Shell disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday.
The company re-started operations of the 110,000-barrel-per-day refinery on April 11 but did not immediately start production. The company earlier announced it would start production by April 14.
“Shell refinery has started up already. Crude oil is already being processed. All finished products are expected to be on grade/within specification by this evening subject to product quality tests,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said during the weekend.
The company said it was committed to provide continuous supply of fuels to its retail stations and customers.
Pilipinas Shell said last week that “a controlled shutdown was instituted in line with operating protocols in order to ensure the safety of personnel and assess any damage potentially caused by the earthquakes.”
The province of Batangas was hit by four strong earthquakes that caused a power outage at Pilipinas Shell’s Tabangao Refinery.
Pilipinas Shell’s refinery has three turbine generators, including one that serves as back-up. The turbine generators generate power and produce steam utilized for the manufacturing of fuel products.
Shell said all personnel in the refinery were accounted for and that there were no injuries sustained as a result of the earthquakes and aftershocks.
“Shell is exerting all efforts to ensure continued reliable supply of quality fuels to its retail stations and customers, including monitoring of supply situation to avoid possible supply disruption to its main markets, including Metro Manila, during the interim period prior to regular production,” the company said last week.
