Total announces the startup today of the hydrogen production unit (Steam Methane Reformer - SMR), at the Normandy refinery near Le Havre. This startup is the first step in the commissioning of the new distillate hydrocracker (DHC) project.

Up to 1,000 people a day worked onsite during the construction phase, with the project completed on time and on budget in 26 months at a cost of around €550 million. The next steps consist of bringing the sulfur recovery units on stream in August then commissioning the hydrocracker, which will be gradually ramped up to reach full product availability at end-September.

The units convert heavy fractions of petroleum into ultra low sulfur distillates, such as automotive diesel and kerosene, to reduce deficits in Europe. They will have an annual production capacity of 1.3 million metric tons of sulfur-free automotive diesel, 200,000 metric tons of sulfur-free kerosene, 500,000 metric tons of high quality bases for lubricants and specialty fluids, and 400,000 metric tons of naphtha feedstock for petrochemicals.