Shell will no longer pursue discussions with each interested party, LaLonde stated on Friday. The reason for that is simply we were too far apart on some of the terms going forward, to realistically reach an agreement on the sale of the refinery. We had purchased enough feedstock to carry us through to this week, but we started the process of shutting down those units.

Shell Canada in January said it would convert the Montreal East refinery to a terminal to receive gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels, to be distributed via its nearby Montreal terminal. Although Shells preferred option was to sell it, the company at the time noted it had found no buyer for the refinery after six months of reviewing various options and marketing the facility to several parties.

Last year Shell placed six of its refineries for sale, in an effort to reduce its refining footprint by 800,000 barrels per day. Three of the six – Montreal East, Harburg, Germany, and Stanlow, U.K. – also have base oil plants. Last month, a Shell spokesman confirmed it is entertaining discussions with other companies about the Harburg and Stanlow refineries, along with one in Heide, Germany, even as it continues talks with Indian refiner Essar Oil.