CTX Caltex Australia Limited

   By Ross Kelly 
 

SYDNEY--Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) said Thursday it will cease refining at operations in Sydney in about four months, as small-scale Australian facilities struggle to compete with larger refineries in Asia.

The Anglo-Dutch company said oil refining at the 79,000 barrel per day Clyde facility will stop from Sept. 30 following its announcement last July that it would be converted into a fuel import terminal.

Shell said last year that refining would cease before mid-2013.

Rival refiner Caltex Australia Ltd. (CTX.AU), which is 50%-owned by Chevron Corp. (CVX), is conducting a strategic review of its two Australian facilities, in Sydney and Brisbane, which it says could result in closures.

-By Ross Kelly, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-2-8272-4692; Ross.Kelly@dowjones.com