Threat of COVID-19 prompts Co-op refinery to defer turnaround

The Co-op Refinery Complex’s annual turnaround is being delayed due to the threat of COVID-19.

The 2020 turnaround, which was to start at the beginning of April, has been pushed back to at least May 15.

“Moving forward, any potential new start date will now be assessed in consultation with provincial health officials,” refinery officials said in a media release Tuesday.

During the yearly event, the refinery brings hundreds of additional workers to the site in north Regina. But this year, with the potential of spreading the virus, the company has put the turnaround on hold.

“At this time, it is simply not safe for our employees or our community to have additional people arriving on site while the threat of COVID-19 exists,” the refinery’s release read.

The Co-op Refinery Complex and Unifor Local 594 have been involved in a bitter labour dispute since Dec. 5, when the company locked out its unionized employees after they filed strike notice.

The refinery hired replacement workers to fill in and housed them in trailers on site.

The company and the union have met with a mediator, whose report is expected soon.

In the meantime, the threat of the virus has forced the company to alter its plans in another way.

“The deferral of turnaround is part of the CRC response plan to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the release read. “The CRC has put protocols in place over the past few weeks to ensure the health and safety of its employees is maintained, and to safeguard the operation of the refinery.”

The company added that it will continue to produce fuel despite the threat of the virus.