LyondellBasell, Houston, plans to delay its refining business exit from year-end 2023 to 'no later' than the end of first-quarter 2025.
In April 2022, the company said it would cease operation of subsidiary Houston Refining LP’s 268,000-b/d full-conversion refinery no later than Dec. 31 of this year (OGJ Online, Apr. 22, 2022). The refinery, on the Houston Ship Channel, currently transforms crude oil into transportation fuels and other products including lubricants, chemical intermediates, and petroleum coke.
Now, “favorable inspections and consistent performance” have given the company “confidence to continue safe and reliable operations” as it continues to develop future options for the 700-acre site, enabling “a smoother transition between the shutdown and the implementation of the retrofitting and circular projects,” LyondellBasell said in a release May 31.
Options being evaluated include recycled and renewable-based feedstocks and green and blue hydrogen. The growth projects under development would connect to existing assets in the Houston area and use existing infrastructure on the refining site including hydrotreaters, pipelines, tanks, utilities, buildings, and laboratories, the company said.
The company anticipates moderate maintenance spend to support the extension in 2023 and 2024 but says it “remains committed" to ceasing operation of its oil refining business.
