Idemitsu shuts Hokkaido CDU after fire

Japanese refiner Idemitsu has shut the crude distillation unit (CDU) at its 150,000 b/d Hokkaido refinery because of a fire.

Idemitsu was forced to close the sole CDU at the refinery in Japan's northernmost Hokkaido prefecture last night after a fire hit the unit's pump equipment. The fire was extinguished 2½ hours later.

Other units are operating without any impact from the fire, but it is unclear if this will continue after today because the duration of CDU shutdown is unknown, Idemitsu said. The company will continue delivering oil products using inventories and supplies from its affiliated refineries.

Idemitsu and its affiliates operate six refineries with a total capacity of 945,000 b/d.

By Maiko Nakashima