Fri 11 Jul 2008, 11:01 GMT

Total shuts units at Port Arthur refinery


U.S. bunker supplier closes down 9 units at its refining facility in Texas.



Total Petrochemicals USA has reported that it has shut down nine units at its 233,000 barrel per day refinery in Port Arthur.

The Houston-based bunker supplier closed down the units on Wednesday night following a notice filed with state pollution regulators. The company did not state the reason why the units were being shut.

According to the notice, which was filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, units 804, 805, 810, 819, 822, 823, 824, 825 and 836 will remain shut until July 12th.

Total Petrochemicals utilizes fuel oil from its Texas refinery to supply marine fuels in Port Arthur and Beaumont. The company - formerly known as Fina Oil and Chemical Company - acquired the refining facility in 1973 when its capacity was 54,000 barrels per day.

As well as producing transportation fuels, the refinery also produces asphalt and base chemicals. In a joint venture with BASF, Total Petrochemicals built the world’s largest single train naphtha steam cracker adjacent to the refinery.

The refinery was expanded in 2004 to include a new crude oil dock and gasoline hydrotreater.


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