The good news is that construction continues on the 325,000 barrel-per-day capacity expansion project at Motiva's Port Arthur refinery, though on a new timetable given current market conditions.   The new production capacity is expected to be online in the first quarter of 2012.  The pace of construction remains subject to change and is dependent on market conditions as well as safe, efficient and cost effective construction activity. 

Motiva Port Arthur General Manager Todd Monette is pleased with the announcement that the project will move forward.    Monette states, "the financial crisis in our country has created a lot of unrest and questions for many regarding the growth our country has seen over the past several years.  In this light, Motiva recently completed its own due diligence on our expansion project and reaffirmed our plans, with some adjustments in timing, to invest in the energy sector of our country with this statement of continued support for the expansion project here in Port Arthur. From the initial onset of the project, Motiva has not wavered in its position of investing in energy capacity for the country and I expect the project and the community will end up on an even stronger platform for sustainability in the long run."         

The refinery will be a world-class, state-of-the art facility.  The expansion is designed to lower most types of emissions from refinery operations on a per barrel basis by utilizing advanced technology in all new system installations and replacing existing systems.  Expansion plans call for decreasing emissions from present day levels for ozone precursors, specifically nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

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