Industry Leaders Call for Coherent EU Policy Linking Refining and Chemical Sectors

The CEOs and leading executives of Europe's prominent fuel manufacturing companies have jointly urged the European Commission to recognise the refining sector as a strategic partner and contribute to the preparation and implementation of the EU's Chemical Industry Action Plan. In their letter, they warn that overlooking the deep interdependence between Europe's refining and chemical industries risks weakening the entire industrial ecosystem.

Refineries and petrochemical plants have been co-located for decades across some 20 industrial clusters in Europe. This integration enables energy efficiency, shared infrastructure, and circular use of feedstocks, essential for Europe's competitiveness and energy resilience. Refineries supply around 50% of the feedstock used by the chemical industry and 97% of Europe's transport energy, forming the foundation of multiple value chains, from automotive and aviation to defence and advanced materials.
The CEOs and leading executives caution that without a coherent strategy and investment framework supporting both industries, Europe could face greater dependence on imported energy and materials, often with higher carbon footprints.

They are calling on the Commission to establish a Strategic Dialogue for the Refining and Chemical Industries to:

• Align the transition of both sectors toward low-carbon and circular feedstocks;
• Create robust business cases for sustainable investment; and
• Secure affordable transformation of Europe's hard-to-abate sectors.

Liana Gouta, Director General of FuelsEurope, stressed "Our industries are two sides of the same coin. Europe's chemical ambitions cannot be achieved without a strong, competitive refining base".

Read the Fuel Manufacturers CEOs' Letter here.