"The Texas energy company Valero is carrying out a plan to close its oil refinery in Benicia, the company said Tuesday, after Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly tried and failed to find a buyer. The closure could cut hundreds of jobs and is expected to bruise the tax base of Benicia, a community anchored by the refinery that has also endured toxic pollution. But the company may replace its gas output with imports by ship, buffering California's fuel supply"
"The change would require Valero to convert the site's port infrastructure, which currently receives crude, not refined, oil. Afterward, it probably employ far fewer workers there, according to one expert. Valero said in a statement on Tuesday it will idle the Benicia refinery by April. The refinery accounts for about 10% of California's crude oil capacity. The publicly-traded company first announced plans to close or idle the refinery in April 2025."
Valero will idle the Benicia oil refinery by April, a facility that provides about 10% of California's crude oil capacity. The closure could eliminate hundreds of jobs and reduce Benicia's tax base, affecting a community already exposed to toxic pollution. Valero plans to import gasoline to the Benicia site, which would require converting port infrastructure that currently receives crude rather than refined fuel. The company announced initial closure plans for April 2025 and said it anticipates importing additional gasoline volumes to the Bay Area in the near term. State officials sought but reportedly failed to find a buyer.
Read at The Mercury News
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