The Montreal refinery is the largest Shell operates in Canada, processing some 130,000 barrels of crude oil each day. (CBC)The Shell refinery in Montreal East could be shutting down production as parent company Royal Dutch Shell said it's conducting a strategic review of assets.
Royal Dutch Shell confirmed on Wednesday the Montreal refinery is in the company's sights.
The Montreal East refinery has a long history in the city, celebrating its 75th anniversary last year. It's the largest Shell refinery in Canada, processing some 130,000 barrels of crude oil each day.
Shell said the refinery injects more than $200 million a year into Montreal’s economy and there are more than 550 jobs at stake, including contractors at the refinery and workers at the gas stations and aviation fuel division.
More than half of those jobs are unionized and local union president Jean-Claude Rocheleau said the news of a possible shutdown was a big surprise.
Royal Dutch Shell said one option is converting the refinery into a terminal, which could safeguard at least some jobs.
A Royal Dutch Shell spokesperson confirmed the review could take months and no final decisions have been made.
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