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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Nearly four weeks after
Hurricane Laura made a direct hit on Lake Charles, La., the region continues
working toward a full recovery. CITGO, also, continues making critical repairs
at its Lake Charles refinery while power is gradually being restored to the
area, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.
Specifically,
partial power has been restored to two of the three refinery substations and
repairs to the damaged refinery equipment are progressing well. We are on
track for a phased restart of operations with all units back in service by mid
to late October.
While we continue working to repair the hardware, CITGO
is working just as hard to help its people and the surrounding community recover
from the devastating effects of this powerful storm. Thankfully, all of our
employees managed safely through the hurricane, but many suffered damage to
their property and homes. In the immediate aftermath we helped more than 300
employees with tarps for their homes and fuel for their tanks. We are also
providing loans and grants for the affected employees and establishing a special
fund to receive additional contributions from employees who wish to help their
fellow employees rebuild.
Within the larger community, we made
arrangements to provide fuel to emergency responders and hospitals as soon as
the storm passed. As the clean-up began, we provided nearly 1,900 meals to first
responders, the Calcasieu Parish Sherriff's department and the National Guard.
Together with the United Way of Southwest Louisiana and Second Harvest Food Bank
of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, our Team CITGO volunteers helped with a
drive-through food distribution event. And to aid longer term recovery
efforts, we're also making charitable donations to Second Harvest and SBP, a
national non-profit dedicated to helping homeowners impacted by disasters such
as Hurricane Laura.
Our local marketers joined the effort as well.
Partnering with Breaux Petroleum, CITGO provided Mystik Bar & Chain
lubricant and Mystik JT-4 Lawn & Garden 2 Cycle engine oil to local fire
departments and the Cajun Navy, a Louisiana-based volunteer rescue and recovery
organization. These vital lubricants will be used for chainsaws, trimmers, and
blowers for local utility and tree service companies as they provide critical
support in the recovery effort.
In addition to helping the community, we
are working hard to restore operations as soon as possible in a way that is safe
for our people, the community and the environment. CITGO will continue to
provide regular progress updates as we work to get the Lake Charles refinery
restored and help the broader Lake Charles community get back on its feet.
As MRC reported
previously, in early September, 2020, Citgo Petroleum Corp said it is not
planning to idle its 418,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Lake Charles, Louisiana,
refinery damaged by Hurricane Laura. Rumors have circulated since Laura’s
passage over the Lake Charles area on Aug. 27 that Citgo was considering
shutting the refinery for an indefinite period because of the extent of the
damage and continuing low demand for motor fuels in the COVID-19
pandemic.
We remind that in the first week of July, 2020, Citgo restarted the
large gasoline-producing fluid catalytic cracker at its 167,500-barrel-per-day
(bpd) Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery.
Propylene is the main feedstock
for the production of polypropylene (PP).
According to MRC's ScanPlast
report, overall PP production in Russia increased in January-July 2020
by 24% year on year to 1,063,700 tonne. ZapSibNeftekhim accounted for the main
increase in the output. |
