Chile top refinery may be out for 2-3 months

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Chile's top oil refinery Bio Bio, damaged by a devastating earthquake, could take at least 60 to 90 days to resume operations as workers focus on repairing installations to warehouse fuel imports, the head of the refinery's union said on Saturday.

Jorge Fierro told Reuters in a phone interview that the installations are being reviewed to check what repairs are needed.

"An exhaustive revision of the condition of lines and pumps will take at least a month or a month and a half," Fierro said. "As far as entering into operations at our refinery, it could take at least 60 to 90 days," Fierro said.

The massive 8.8-magnitude quake killed hundreds and destroyed roads and buildings in the South American nation.

The closed refinery, with the capacity to process 116,000 barrels of oil per day, has led to lingering concerns about power supplies in the world's top copper producer.

Chile has been forced to step up diesel imports from Asia and the United States because of the refinery problems, but the government has said there will be sufficient fuel to meet demand.

Fierro said the plant could be ready to receive and house fuel imports by next week.

"Up until now our priority has been to ensure we are able to warehouse (imported) fuel," he said.

The smaller Aconcagua refinery should be up and running "in coming days," state oil company ENAP said in a statement on Friday, since it did not suffer any structural damage.