Top 10 Largest Oil Refineries in Europe

Europe is home to some of the largest and most advanced oil refineries. In 2023, European oil refineries were at the forefront of supplying refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemical feedstocks, to European and global markets.

The largest oil refineries in Europe are generally located in strategic locations such as coastal regions or near major industrial hubs, ensuring smooth access to crude oil imports and efficient distribution of refined products.

Thus, these refineries are instrumental in stabilizing energy supplies, supporting industrial activities, and driving economic growth.

Read: Full List of All Refineries in Canada & Their Locations

Largest Oil Refineries in Europe

Pernis Refinery (Netherlands)

• Location: Pernis, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Capacity: 416,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 404,000 barrels per day
• Operator: Shell 
• Products:
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, heavy fuel oils, & others
  • Petrochemical Feedstocks: Naphtha, Propylene & Benzene
• Crude Source:
  • Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq
  • North Sea: UK & Norway
  • West Africa: Nigeria and Angola.
  • North and South America: US shale
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: Extensive pipeline connections to move refined products to critical locations across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and other European countries.
  • Shipping: Located in Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, the refinery uses tankers and barges for international shipping to export markets.
  • Road Transport: Tanker trucks distribute products to regional fuel depots and retail outlets.

Pernis Refinery is Shell’s largest oil refinery in Europe and the largest in Europe by capacity in 2023. Its size enables it to process various crude oils into fuels, lubricants, and other products. Also, the refinery is integrated with chemical manufacturing units. Thus, it is a crucial hub for the European market for fuel and petrochemical products like base chemicals, solvents, and ethylene. Situated in Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, the refinery has exceptional connectivity for shipping, pipelines, and road transport, ensuring efficient distribution across Europe and beyond. However, the shift from Russian crude after sanctions necessitated feedstock sourcing and supply chain changes.

NRC Rotterdam

• Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Capacity: 400,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 394,000 barrels per day
• Operator: Shell
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil
  • Petrochemicals: Feedstocks for plastics, resins, and other chemical products
• Crude Source:
  • Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq
  • North Sea: UK & Norway
  • West Africa: Nigeria and Angola.
  • North and South America: US shale
  • Caspian suppliers: Azerbaijan
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: Extensive pipeline connections to move refined products to key locations across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and other European countries.
  • Shipping: Located in Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, the refinery uses tankers and barges for international shipping to export markets in Africa and North America.
  • Road Transport: Tanker trucks distribute products to regional fuel depots and retail outlets.
  • Inland Waterways: Rotterdam’s access to rivers like the Rhine enables the smooth transport of products via barges to Germany, Switzerland, and other Central European markets.

It is another one of the largest oil refineries in Europe, processing 394,000 barrels of oil per day in 2023. The refinery produces a wide range of products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, heating oil, and bitumen, for the European domestic markets and international exports. The Rotterdam refinery is central to BP’s European refining and marketing operations. Located in the Port of Rotterdam, the refinery is a hub for distributing refined products across Western Europe, including Germany, Belgium, and France.

Plock Refinery

• Location: Płock, Poland
• Capacity: 276,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 337,000 barrels per day
• Operator: PKN Orlen
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, and fuel oil.
  • Petrochemicals: Ethylene, propylene, and other feedstocks for plastics and industrial use.
  • Specialty products: Bitumen, lubricants, and sulfur.
• Crude Source:
  • Russian Crude: Via Druzhba pipeline for significant volumes of Russian Urals crude. This dependence has been reduced due to EU sanctions and geopolitical shifts.
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway.
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
  • US Crude: Shale oil.
  • West African Crude: Nigeria and Angola.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipeline Network: Linked to PERN’s pipeline system, which transports refined fuels directly to depots and industrial centres across Poland. In addition, it supplies to neighbouring countries like the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, and Slovakia.
  • Road and Rail Transport: Refined products are distributed domestically and regionally via tanker trucks and railcars.
  • Inland Waterways: The refinery’s proximity to rivers and the Gdańsk port allows for the transport of bulk products by barges and ships.
  • Exports via Gdańsk Oil Terminal: Seaborne exports of refined fuels & petrochemicals to Western Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

The Plock Refinery in Poland is one of the largest oil refineries in Central and Eastern Europe, producing 337 bbls per day of refined products in 2023. It is owned and operated by PKN Orlen, one of the largest oil companies in Central Europe. The complex also produces several petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, heating oil, and petrochemical feedstocks.

Antwerp Refinery

• Location: Antwerp, Belgium
• Capacity: 360,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 333,000 barrels per day
• Operator: TotalEnergies
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, kerosene (jet fuel), fuel oil, and LPG.
  • Petrochemicals: Ethylene, propylene, and other feedstocks for plastics and industrial chemicals.
  • Specialty Products: Bitumen, lubricants, and sulfur.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway.
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
  • US Crude: US Shale oil & Venezuela
  • West African Crude: Nigeria and Angola.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: Connected to a vast pipeline network for the smooth transportation of fuels and feedstocks to industries, depots, and airports across Belgium, as well as neighbouring countries, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
  • Exports: The refinery ships refined products to North Africa, the Americas, and Asia, leveraging Antwerp’s strategic port facilities.
  • Road and Rail Transport: Products are distributed via tanker trucks and railcars to domestic and regional markets.

The Antwerp Refinery, operated by TotalEnergies, is a major industrial complex and one of the largest oil refineries in Europe in 2023. It is strategically located in the port of Antwerp, a key hub for oil and gas transportation and processing. The refinery’s location in the Port of Antwerp enables it to play a crucial role in refining crude oil into various petroleum products and petrochemicals, serving both European and international markets. The complex produces diverse petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petroleum feedstocks.

Rhineland Refinery

• Location: Wesseling & Godorf, Cologne, Germany
• Capacity: 350,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 325,000 barrels per day
• Operator: Shell
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, kerosene (jet fuel), fuel oil, heating oil, and LPG.
  • Petrochemicals: Ethylene, propylene, and other feedstocks.
  • Specialty Products: Bitumen, lubricants, and sulfur.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway.
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
  • US Crude: US Shale oil, Brazil, & Venezuela
  • West African Crude: Nigeria and Angola.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: Integrated into a vast European pipeline network for direct delivery of fuels to Germany and neighbouring countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
  • Road Transport: Refined products distributed via tanker trucks to domestic fuel stations, industrial clients, and wholesalers.
  • Waterways: The refinery leverages the Rhine River for barge transportation, enabling efficient bulk delivery to inland European markets.
  • Sea Export: Exports products globally through nearby ports, such as Rotterdam and Wilhelmshaven.

The Rhineland Refinery is one of Germany’s and Europe’s largest oil refineries near Cologne. It is operated by Shell Deutschland GmbH. The refinery operates as an integrated complex across two sites: Wesseling and Godorf. The complex also produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), heating oil, petrochemical feedstocks, and others.

Antwerp Refinery

• Location: Port of Antwerp, Belgium
• Capacity: 333,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 307,000 barrels per day
• Operator: ExxonMobil Corporation
• Products: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, marine fuels, and petrochemical feedstocks.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway.
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
  • US Crude: US Shale oil, Brazil, & Venezuela
  • West African Crude: Nigeria and Angola.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: A vast pipeline network links the refinery to depots & industries in Belgium and neighbouring countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
  • Road Transport: Refined products are transported via tanker trucks to domestic fuel stations, industrial clients, and wholesale distributors in Belgium.
  • Waterways: The refinery leverages the Port of Antwerp’s access to the Scheldt River, enabling the distribution of refined products via barges to inland European markets.
  • Sea Exports: Products are exported globally from the Port of Antwerp to Asia, Africa, and North America.

The Antwerp Refinery, operated by ExxonMobil, is a major industrial complex and one of the largest oil refineries operating in Europe in 2023. The refinery’s location in the Port of Antwerp enables it to play a crucial role in refining crude oil into various petroleum products and petrochemicals, serving both European and international markets.

ISAB Priolo Refinery

• Location: Syracuse, Sicily, Italy
• Capacity: 320,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 304,000 barrels per day
• Operator: It is operated by ISAB SRL, a joint venture between Lukoil and Hera Group.
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and LPG.
  • Petrochemical Feedstocks: Naphtha and propylene.
  • Specialty Products: Lubricants and asphalt.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway.
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
  • US Crude: US Shale oil, Brazil, & Venezuela
  • West African Crude: Nigeria and Angola.
  • Caspian Sea and Central Asia: Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipeline Network: The refinery is integrated with Italy’s extensive pipeline infrastructure, allowing the transportation of refined products to critical distribution points across the country.
  • Road Transport: Refined products are distributed via tanker trucks to fuel stations, industrial clients, and regional markets throughout Sicily and mainland Italy.
  • Sea Exports: The refinery’s proximity to the Priolo Port allows for efficient export of refined products to international markets, particularly in Southern Europe and North Africa.

The ISAB Priolo Refinery is a major oil refinery in Priolo Gargallo, near Syracuse in Sicily, Italy. It is operated by ISAB SRL, a joint venture between Lukoil (a Russian energy company) and Hera Group (an Italian industrial group). Its proximity to major shipping routes in the Mediterranean makes it a key hub for exporting products to Southern Europe and North Africa.

Sarroch Refinery

• Location: Sardinia, Italy
• Capacity: 300,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 300,000 barrels per day
• Operator: Saras SPA
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and LPG.
  • Petrochemical Feedstocks: Naphtha and propylene.
  • Specialty Products: Lubricants and asphalt.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway.
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
  • US Crude: US Shale oil, Brazil, & Venezuela
  • West African Crude: Nigeria, Libya, and Angola.
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: Connect to pipelines to various locations across Sardinia and mainland Italy. These pipelines deliver gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products to regional distribution hubs and fueling stations.
  • Road Transport: Refined products are delivered by tanker trucks to retail gas stations, industrial customers, and large distributors.
  • Sea Exports: The Sarroch Refinery’s location on the Gulf of Cagliari gives it direct access to maritime shipping routes. Refined products, including fuels and petrochemicals, are exported via sea to Southern Europe, North Africa, and other Mediterranean regions.

The Sarroch Refinery is one of the largest oil refineries in Europe by capacity in 2023. It is located in Sarroch, on the southwest coast of Sardinia, Italy. Raffineria di Sarroch SPA, a subsidiary of Eni SPA, one of Italy’s largest energy companies, operates the refinery.

Karlsruhe Refinery

• Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
• Capacity: 310,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 287,000 barrels per day
• Operator: The refinery is owned and operated by MiRO (Mineraloelraffinerie Oberrhein GmbH & Co. KG), a joint venture of major oil companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Rosneft, and Phillips 66.
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
  • Heating Oils: low-sulfur heating oil.
  • Petrochemical Feedstocks: Naphtha and LPG
  • Specialty Products: Bitumen for road construction, sulfur for industrial uses, and lubricants.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq
  • African Crude: Libya & Algeria
  • Russian Crude: Delivered via pipelines like the Druzhba pipeline and other connected systems
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: The refinery is integrated into an extensive pipeline network, enabling the transport of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products to Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria.
  • Inland Waterways: The refinery leverages the Rhine River to ship products via barges to River-based industrial facilities in Central Europe.
  • Road and Rail Transport: Tanker trucks and railcars distribute refined products to local and regional markets, including retail fuel stations, industrial customers, and airports.
  • Export Markets: Refined products are exported to other European countries, particularly through the Rhine-Alpine Corridor, which connects Germany to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and other parts of Western Europe.

The Karlsruhe Refinery, located in Karlsruhe, Germany, is one of Europe’s largest and most modern refineries. It plays a crucial role in Germany’s energy infrastructure by refining crude oil into a wide range of petroleum products. With a refining capacity of approximately 310,000 barrels per day, it is one of the largest oil refineries in Europe. Situated near the Rhine River, the refinery benefits from excellent transport connections via pipelines, inland waterways, railways, and road networks.

Gelsenkirchen Refinery

• Location: Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Capacity: 250,000 barrels per day
• 2023 capacity: 265,000 barrels per day
• Operator: BP Europa SE through its subsidiary, Ruhr Oel GmbH (ROG), a joint venture between BP and Rosneft
• Products: 
  • Fuels: Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
  • Petrochemicals: Ethylene, propylene, benzene, and toluene.
  • Heating Oil: low-sulfur heating oil for residential and industrial use.
  • Specialty Products: Includes bitumen for construction and lubricants.
• Crude Source:
  • North Sea Crude: the UK and Norway
  • Middle Eastern Crude: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq
  • African Crude: Libya & Algeria
  • Russian Crude: Delivered via pipelines like the Druzhba pipeline and other connected systems
• Market Reach & Distribution
  • Pipelines: The refinery is integrated into an extensive pipeline network, which enables the transport of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other products to Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Austria.
  • Inland Waterways: Located near the Rhine-Herne Canal, the refinery ships products by barges, providing a cost-effective option for regional and cross-border distribution.
  • Exports: The refinery serves export markets across Western Europe, leveraging its proximity to Germany’s transport infrastructure and neighbouring countries.

The Gelsenkirchen Refinery in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is one of Europe’s largest and most modern refineries. It plays a crucial role in Germany’s energy infrastructure by refining crude oil into a wide range of petroleum products. With a refining capacity of about 265,000 barrels per day, it is one of the largest oil refineries in Europe. Situated near the Rhine-Herne Canal River, the refinery benefits from excellent transport connections to river-based industries.