Italian refineries, oil distribution networks working normally during lockdown

Rome, March 12 2020 — Italy's key oil refining and distribution infrastructure was operating as normal Thursday after the recent nationwide lockdown on non-essential activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19, sources said.

That was after Italy suffered the highest daily death toll Wednesday among any nation since the outbreak began in China several months ago.

Italy, Europe's number three gas consumer and fifth-biggest oil user, tightened quarantine measures on its 60 million residents after the number of deaths in the nation jumped by 196 in 24 hours to 827.

Confirmed infections in Europe's most affected nation rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149.

People in Italy are being told by authorities it is obligatory to stay at home, with all public gatherings and sporting events scrapped, with police patrolling the streets to check those moving around have a valid reason.

Notwithstanding the government measures, energy, including crude and gas operations, have been deemed to be strategic activities and, as such, are being maintained operational as usual at least for the time being, trade union sources said.

In terms of refineries, "at the moment, there are no interruptions in production at plants" tied to the government-measures aimed at combating COVID-19, "and the sector continues to provide supply in line with obligatory guaranteed services outlined by Italian civil protection services during periods of emergency," a spokesman for Unione Petrolifera said.

Unione Petrolifera also said refinery plant operators were operating as planned. Trade union sources said the owners of the plants have long since introduced stringent health checks and measures. Unione Petrolifera is the national association of Italian oil companies.

Activities at the API refinery in the central Italian coastal town of Falconara Marittima were continuing as usual and are currently unaffected by the measures barring the introduction of stringent health and safety measures, people close to the refinery said Thursday. That was also the case for Eni refineries, according to trade union sources.

The latest measures were announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Wednesday night in a televised address to the nation.

As part of the new regulations, all commercial activities in Italy excluding pharmacies, supermarkets and food stores are being forced to cease activities for a few weeks.

In terms of the oil distribution networks, "at the moment, we are not being signaled any operational issues, though we are constantly monitoring the situation," the Unione Petrolifera spokesman said.

All other business operations that have not been forced to suspend activities, including upstream and refineries, have been invited to make maximum use of remote working.

Trade union representatives said those measures were being implemented in refineries and oil and gas companies as far as it was possible to do so.