Due to the new projected path of Hurricane Ike, which has shifted eastward, Valero has decided to shut its 325,000 bpd Port Arthur refinery. In addition, the shutdown process is concluding at the 245,000 bpd Texas City refinery and the 130,000 bpd Houston refinery.
Valero's other Gulf Coast refineries are operating at planned rates.
The total of company-operated retail sites that have been closed along the Gulf Coast due to evacuation orders has grown to about three dozen. Most stores that are closed will continue to dispense fuel to customers paying with a credit card as long as there is fuel in the tanks and the power stays on. Valero continues to work with the state of Texas on plans to keep fuel stations along evacuation routes supplied as long as possible.