US ExxonMobil to raise refining capacity at Beaumont by 65%

HOUSTON (ICIS)–ExxonMobil plans build a new crude unit at its refinery in Beaumont, Texas, which will increase the refining capacity at the site by 65% or 250,000 bbl/day, the US-based company said on Tuesday.

This will be the third crude unit at the company’s Beaumont complex, and it will allow it to refine more light crude, ExxonMobil said in announcing the final investment decision (FID).

A lot of this light crude is coming from the Permian Basin in west Texas.

The new unit should start up in 2022, ExxonMobil said.

“With access to terminals, railways, pipelines and waterways nearby, the Beaumont refinery is strategically positioned to benefit from Permian production growth,” said Bryan Milton, president of ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants. “The addition of a third crude unit in Beaumont will enhance the refinery’s competitive position and truly establish it as a leader in the US refining industry.”

The Beaumont refinery can process 366,000 bbl/day of crude.

The photo above shows an ExxonMobil sign. Image by Shutterstock