mellow gold schreef:
Motiva Announces Progress on Refinery Expansion Project
Royal Dutch Shell plc today welcomed the below announcement by Motiva
Enterprises LLC that it has made significant progress toward expanding refining
capacity in the United States. A Final investment decision has not yet been
taken on this project:
Motiva Announces Progress on Refinery Expansion Project
325,000-barrel-per-day expansion would enhance supplies of gasoline, diesel and
aviation fuel in United States
Houston - April 28, 2006 - Motiva Enterprises LLC announced today that it has
made significant progress toward expanding refining capacity in the United
States. The company has completed initial project scoping and process design
for the potential expansion. Results indicate that a 325,000-barrel-per-day
crude throughput increase at the Motiva Port Arthur Refinery in Texas would be
the best, most logical choice. The project would make the Port Arthur Refinery
the largest in the country.
The potential expansion would bring much needed supplies of transportation
fuels to the U.S. market - particularly the Eastern and Southern regions of the
country where Motiva facilities are located. While the proposed expansion would
notably increase refining capacity, modern design and technology would minimize
associated emissions. Motiva would utilize advanced technology in all new
installations and replace existing systems to significantly lower emissions
from refinery operations on a per barrel basis.
Saudi Refining Inc. and Shell Oil Company, joint owners of the U.S.-based
Motiva, still need to finalize certain details relative to the project. Pending
necessary regulatory approvals, Motiva would expect to initiate final
engineering later in 2006 and begin construction in 2007. The new capacity
would be projected to come online in 2010.
'We are confident that the market fundamentals will support an expansion of our
U.S. refining capacity. Adding 325,000 barrels-per-day of refining capacity
would be the equivalent of building a new refinery in the United States,' said
William B. Welte, Motiva President and Chief Executive Officer. 'We are taking
deliberate steps to strengthen our nation's ability to meet future demand for
gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels.'
Motiva continues to identify opportunities to expand refining capacity at all
three of its Gulf Coast refineries located at Port Arthur, and at Convent and
Norco in Louisiana.
Motiva Enterprises LLC owns and operates refineries capable of refining
approximately 780,000 barrels per day, a distribution system including
ownership interests in 42 product terminals, and a marketing network that
supports approximately 9,000 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the Eastern and
Southern United States. More information is available at
motivaenterprises.com.