FRANKFURT, March 6 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell has shut its 195,000 barrel per day (bpd) Godorf refinery inGermany for a maintenance period due to last throughout Marchand April, a company spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
"The Godorf plant is closed until the end of April," shesaid.
A press release issued by the company said the wind-down forthe routine turnaround, which takes place every five years, hadstarted on Feb. 26 after over a year's worth of preparation andafter obtaining approval from safety authorities last autumn.
Shell did not give a restart date but said it would notifythe public as soon as the plant is back on line.
The work, which involves some 900 external staff in additionto on-site employees, will consist of inspections, conversionsand emission reductions measures, it said.
Some old equipment would be swapped for new parts in orderto ensure more flexible distillation and processing of differentcrude oil types.