Delaware City refinery expands rail capacity

The refinery’s new rail facility is expected to take its first delivery of crude oil later this week.

 

The 70,000 barrel per day crude oil unloading facility is the latest upgrade PBF Energy has done since purchasing the refinery in 2010, after it had been shuttered by Valero.  The new rail capacity means the refinery will be able to receive 110,000 barrels per day of of crude oil on site.  That includes 40,000 barrels of heavy crude and 70,000 barrels of light crude oil in one day.

PBF Energy CEO Tom Nimbley says the new capacity gives the refinery a competitive advantage in the region.  “PBF is now able to deliver significant quantities of cost-advantaged North American crude oils directly to Delaware City at a very competitive price.”  

In addition to the new rail facility, the company has also announced plans to increase the amount of Canadian heavy crude it can process at Delaware City.  “We believe that Canadian heavy barrels will be the most economic barrels on the market, and we intend to take the necessary steps to maximize our exposure to take advantage of this crude,” Nimbley said.

PBF’s board is expected to approve construction for expanding the heavy crude unloading facility to make way for the Candadian heavy crude.  If approved, the refinery would be able to double its capacity to 80,000 barrels per day of the heavy crude.  

Since being purchased and restarted by PBF Energy, the refinery now employs 435 full time workers at its 5,000 acre site in Delaware City.