CITGO starts up Corpus Christi ULSD unit
CITGO Petroleum has completed the construction and startup of a 42,500 bpd unit utilizing the latest technology to produce ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) at its Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery. With the completion of this unit, which has been in operation since December, CITGO is now capable of producing 100% ULSD at all of its refineries.
The CITGO shareholder, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of the Venezuela, was involved in the project. PDVSA’s research arm, INTEVEP, participated early in the ULSD process unit design, in such areas as reactor sizing, and reactor internals and catalyst selection.
“Projects such as our ULSD facilities show our commitment to the environment and to the communities CITGO serves. The completion of this corporate-wide effort allows us to further contribute to a cleaner environment for all,” said CITGO CEO Alejandro Granado. “This initiative is in alignment with the environmental principles endorsed by PDVSA, our shareholder.”
The new unit at the Corpus Christi refinery is reducing the sulfur content of the diesel transportation fuel produced at the facility by 99.7%, resulting in a product with virtually no sulfur emissions. The fuel also complies with new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for “clean diesel” fuels.
With a combined crude capacity of 749,000 bpd in its three refineries, CITGO is the third largest independent refiner in the US. The construction of the ULSD unit at Corpus Christi was completed with zero lost time injuries.
Granado led the opening ceremony at the Corpus Christi facility on January 26, which was attended by local and state officials as well as local CITGO marketers and refinery employees.
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