BackgroundOver the years the oil refining system in the EU has developed and adapted to meet the evolving demand, in both qualitative and quantitative terms, while coping with an ever-changing supply of crude oils. The combination of changes in demand and crude supply requires constant adaptation of the refining tool, taking all factors into account, including the availability of dependable import and export opportunities to 'balance the books' under acceptable economic terms. Supported by a sophisticated linear programming model representing the entire European refining industry, CONCAWE regularly endeavours to quantify the changes that might be required in terms of new/modified process units, resulting refining costs, energy consumption and CO2 emissions.