Shell says strikes cause TGI shutdown at Pernis

LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell said the TGIunit at its 404,000 barrels per day Pernis plant in theNetherlands, Europe's biggest oil refinery, has been shut due tostrike action which began on April 8.

A spokeswoman for the oil major said that striking workerswere trying to disrupt planned maintenance on the Moerdijk LowerOlefins (MLO) factory at the nearby petrochemical plant.

"Not taking out the factory for maintenance could have aneffect on the environment, safety and licences, therefore we arekeen to have the maintenance take place as scheduled," she said.

(Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar)