LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell's Moerdijkcracker in the Netherlands will remain closed until late 2015,and the company will supply its customers from a previouslyclosed petrochemicals complex owned by Italy's Eni, the oilmajor said on Wednesday.
Versalis, the petrochemicals division of Italy's Eni, willrestart the Porto Marghera, Italy, refinery around mid-February.
Shell shut down the Moedijk complex on Oct. 2 followingcontamination in the steam system, but restarted two of the fourunits, which produce styrene, propylene oxide and ethyleneoxide, late last year.
"Shell remains committed to continue supply to Moerdijkcustomers where feasible, and this includes the sourcing ofproducts from third parties and other production locations,"said Shell spokeswoman Kayla Macke.
The Porto Marghera refinery has been closed since at leastlast year, and Versalis recently announced plans to spend 200million euros to convert the complex to producing biofuels.According to consultants JBC Energy, the cracker runs mostly onLPG, rather than naphtha.
In a statement, Eni said the agreement will not impact thelong-term plans for the plant. (Reporting by Libby George; Editing by Michael Urquhart)
