Texas oil refinery explosion: Valero plant in Port Arthur burns after incident
A major emergency operation is underway in the US after an explosion at a large oil refinery.
A major emergency operation is underway in the US after an explosion at a large oil refinery.
The explosion has been reported in Port Arthur, Texas, at the Valero refinery.
Valero is the largest global independent petroleum refiner, with the Port Arthur operation understood to pump out 435,000 barrels a day. The site refines crude oil, it into petroleum, diesel and jet fuel.
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Enormous plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky in videos that quickly circulated online.
Valero’s website says the Port Arthur refinery “receives crude oil by rail, marine docks and pipelines. Products are distributed into pipelines and across the refinery docks into ships and barges.”
The explosion comes at a horror time for petrol prices, which are currently soaring due to war in the Middle East and the blockage in the Strait of Hormuz.
No explanation for a likely cause of the explosion has been reported.
