MOSCOW (MRC) -- Marathon Petroleum plans to permanently close two small US oil refineries in Martinez, California, and Gallup, New Mexico, the company said, eliminating 800 jobs in response to lower fuels demand, reported Reuters.
The largest US refiner by volume had earlier idled the two facilities following weak demand due to COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States. US refiners on average idled about 20% of total processing capacity on falling vehicle and air travel.
Marathon said it plans to use the Martinez facility as an oil-storage facility and is evaluating its future use to produce renewable diesel, a fuel made from industry waste and used cooking oil. Martinez is California’s fourth largest refinery.
The company on Monday is forecast to swing to a second-quarter loss of USD1.75 per share, from a USD1.73 per share profit a year ago, according to Refinitiv data.
Marathon is negotiating a sale of its Speedway gasoline station network, a deal that could fetch between USD15 billion and USD17 billion, Reuters reported last month.
Marathon shares traded at USD38.20 on Friday, down 38% year to date.
Marathon spokesman Sid Barth declined further comment about the closures on Saturday.
About 860 employees work at the 161,000 barrel per day (bpd) Martinez and 27,000-bpd Gallup refineries. “Most jobs at these refineries will no longer be necessary, and we expect to begin a phased reduction of staffing levels” in October, the company said.
The closings are not anticipated to result in supply disruptions. “We will continue to utilize our integrated system to meet customer commitments,” the company said in a statement on its website.
As MRC reported earlier, US refiner Marathon Petroleum Corp is delaying all maintenance projects at its 102,000 barrel-per-day St. Paul Park, Minnesota, refinery for 2020 amid concerns related to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Several refiners have delayed planned maintenance at their plants this year due to concerns around the spread of the coronavirus among workers, or as part of capital and operational expense cuts.
Besides, Marathon Petroleum Corp idled its 166,000 barrel-per-day (bpd)refinery in Martinez, California beginning April 27 in response to the coronavirus pandemic’s hit to demand for refined products.
Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
According to MRC's DataScope report, PE imports to Russia dropped in January-June 2020 by 7% year on year to 328,000 tonnes. High density polyethylene (HDPE) accounted for the main decrease in imports. At the same time, PP imports into Russia rose in the first six months of 2020 by 21% year on year to 105,300 tonnes. Propylene homopolymer (homopolymer PP) accounted for the main increase in imports.
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