US CCI gets EPA permit for Texas condensate complex

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the go-ahead to energy trader Castleton Commodities International’s (CCI) plans for a 100,000 bbl/day condensate splitter plant and bulk petroleum terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas, the EPA announced on Monday.

The greenhouse gas (GHG) permit issued by the EPA authorises CCI to build a splitter, storage and barge loading operation that can handle 500,000 bbl/day of condensate for export.

CCI did not immediately return a request for comment.

The complex will have two fractionation trains, each with a processing capacity of 50,000 bbl/day of condensate, according to an air permit application. The products will include Y-grade, naphtha, gas oil, diesel and jet fuel.

A jet fuel treating unit will allow the material to meet Jet A-1 and JP-54 grade kerosene specifications, the application said. Construction on the project could start in November 2014, and operations could begin in June 2015, the application said.

CCI first announced the project in December 2013.

CCI is developing the condensate splitter as the energy boom in the US has led to increasing amounts of the material as a result of production from the country’s shale formations in such places as the Eagle Ford in south Texas.

Exports of products made from refined condensate have been occurring for a while, but the door to export condensate itself was opened recently with the approval earlier this year when the US Department of Commerce authorised two companies to export the hydrocarbon without a specific licence.