The move forms part of the firm’s wider plan to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050.
Royal Dutch Shell is planning to stop crude oil processing at its refinery at Wesseling in Germany, from 2025, to shift towards low or zero-carbon products.
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As part of the plan, the Shell Rheinland refinery is being transformed into the Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland (Shell Rheinland).
At the Wesseling site, Shell Deutschland plans to replace raw material crude oil in future with new or reallocated plants.
The firm also plans to make use of circular waste materials and biogenic feedstocks to produce more CO₂-free or low-CO₂ products.
To support the production, the refinery’s existing systems are planned to be dismantled, converted, or rededicated, and will see the installation of new units.
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By GlobalDataShell Rheinland is anticipated to save one million tonnes of direct CO₂ emissions per annum with the refinery renovations in Wesseling.
Shell said that it is due to take a final investment decision on plans for the crude oil processing cessation at the refinery.
However, the firm will continue crude oil distillation operations in Cologne-Godorf, Germany.
In the coming years, the Shell Verbund in north-west Europe will be responsible for the supply of fuels and other mineral oil products.
The move is expected to contribute to Shell’s plan to become a net-zero underwriter by 2050.
Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland general manager Dr Marco Richrath said: “We want to take over this in the future with a completely changed product portfolio as Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland.”
In a separate announcement, Exxon Mobil is reportedly considering carbon capture technology and development cut costs for the $30bn LNG project in Mozambique.
Mozambique Energy Minister Max Tonela was cited by Reuters as saying to journalists at a joint press conference with an Exxon representative that the firm has outlined its plans with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi.
Tonela added: “The company’s focus will be on reducing costs and redesigning the project to capture carbon dioxide.”
