Media Release
Organisational restructure at Geelong refinery
23/03/2010
Shell today announced it will conduct an organisational restructure at its Geelong Refinery so the site can continue to be successful in the highly competitive Australian refining market.
Refinery General Manager Mark Schubert said the restructure was part of the refinery’s 2010 business plan and built on the solid foundations the refinery has created around reliability, health, safety and environment - while maintaining a positive relationship with the Geelong community.
Mr Schubert told an employee session with Shell classified staff (non-maintenance, non-trade and non-operational employees) this morning, the reorganisation would see a small number of positions made redundant as a consequence of actions to make the refinery more competitive.
"The reorganisation takes place during a difficult time for the global refining industry due to overcapacity and the effect of the global financial crisis,” Mr Schubert said.
On Saturday company spokesman Paul Zennaro expressed surprise at a report in Saturday’s Geelong Advertiser that its Geelong refinery was being sold.
He said the report cited Royal Dutch Shell’s CEO, Peter Voser, who had said that the company was seeking bids for several refineries in Europe. However, Geelong was not one of them.
Shell Geelong Refinery produces about 50% of Victoria’s fuel and almost all of Tasmania’s fuel.
Between 2004 and 2011 Shell will have invested $130 million on environmental improvement projects and about $260 million on clean fuel projects at the Geelong Refinery.
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Media inquiries: Paul Zennaro, Senior Media Advisor
Email: paul.zennaro@shell.com
Shell media hotline: 0417 007 344