By ROSS KELLY

SYDNEY -- Shell will cease refining at operations in Sydney in about four months, as small-scale Australian facilities struggle to compete with larger refineries in Asia.

The Anglo-Dutch company said oil refining at the 79,000 bpdClyde facility will stop from Sept. 30 following its announcement last July that it would be converted into a fuel import terminal.

Shell said last year that refining would cease before mid-2013.

Rival refiner Caltex Australia Ltd., which is 50%-owned by Chevron, is conducting a strategic review of its two Australian facilities, in Sydney and Brisbane, which it says could result in closures.


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