French refining feels the squeeze
Tougher economics could spark another rationalisation in the sector
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has seen European refining margins turn negative for the first time since the IEA began tracking them in 2006. After milder conditions in the second half of the 2010s, France’s refining sector could again see casualties such as it experienced in the 2009-12 period. Back then, a third of the country’s 12 existing facilities stopped refining, although infrastructure was mostly repurposed as product storage. Closure of the Mardyck, Reichstett, Berre L’Etang and Petit Couronne plants removed a combined capacity of almost 400,000bl/d. European refineries, including those in France, have since benefitted from sustained lower crude prices post-2014, robust global

Also in this section
7 July 2025
The end of Grangemouth and Lindsey oil refineries marks a worrying trend across Europe amid cost and transition pressures
3 July 2025
The July/August 2025 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
2 July 2025
The global energy community will converge in Dubai on 10 December for a landmark event dedicated to shaping the future of natural gas across the region
30 June 2025
Government is sending out the right policy signals to support increased domestic gas development, but policy takes time to implement and even longer to yield results