Total announces plans to convert La Mede refinery to biodiesel production

In France, Total has ended months of speculation by at last confirming plans to revamp its La Mede oil refinery into a 500,000 metric ton per year biodiesel facility. The company will invest more than €200 million to convert the facility while cutting 178 jobs, a decision that has led workers to go on strike and stop all products from leaving the facility. About 55,000 t/yr of biopropane and bionaphtha will be produced when the renovated facility comes online.