For the past few days, the Cressier refinery in the canton of Neuchâtel has been shut down due to a technical fault. The problem is that it is the country’s only refinery. It produces just over 30 per cent of the fuel consumed in Switzerland. Without it in operation, supplies are running low fast.
To compensate, the Confederation authorised access yesterday to the compulsory reserves of petrol and diesel. In total, 60,000 cubic metres over twelve days, from 8 to 20 September. That may sound like a lot, but it represents less than 3 per cent of total reserves, which are intended to cover four and a half months’ consumption. The system works: reserves are there precisely for this purpose.
What complicates the situation somewhat further is the water level of the Rhine, which remains low following the hottest summer in 162 years. River transport is one of the alternative supply routes, and with the river at a low level, making up for the loss of production at Cressier is taking longer than usual. The refinery is expected to resume operations in mid-September.
At present, there are no reports of shortages at petrol stations, and kerosene and heavy fuel oil are not affected. But this is the sort of news that serves as a reminder that Switzerland, for all its efficiency, relies on a single refinery for a third of its fuel supplies. It all sounds very good in theory until the only plant breaks down.