Sep 27, 2022
BP's Ohio Refinery May Stay Shut Into 2023 After Deadly Fire
Bloomberg News
,(Bloomberg) -- Repairing and then restarting BP Plc’s fire damaged BP-Husky Toledo refinery in Ohio may not be completed until early 2023, people familiar with operations said.
U.S. safety inspectors are just beginning their inspection of the plant after a fire at its biggest crude unit Sept. 20 killed two BP employees, said the people, who asked to remain anonymous discussing internal matters. All contractors were sent home hours before the fire erupted at the 150,800 barrel-a-day refinery. BP workers are now onsite conducting cleanup and safety checks.
Any startup, whether in full or partially, would have to have the approval of safety inspectors, and may be done in phases.
“I have no direct knowledge of the damage but based on the seriousness of the incident, the two fatalities and the safety concerns in a restart, it would not surprise me if restart stretches into the next year,” said John Auers, managing director of Refined Fuels Analytics, a division of RBN Energy. “The difficulties of restarting in winter and during the holiday season also complicates things.”
BP didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment and has not given an update on the status of the refinery in Oregon, Ohio, since early Wednesday. The company is in the process of selling its 50% stake in the Ohio refinery, known as BP-Husky Toledo, to its joint-venture partner Cenovus Energy Inc.
- READ: BP Toledo Workers Back in Refinery to Clean Up After Fire
- READ: BP Keeps Contractors Out of Fire-Damaged Toledo To October
- READ: Fire at 103-Year-Old BP Refinery Kills Two, Halts Work
- READ: BP to Sell Interest in BP-Husky Toledo Refinery to Cenovus
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