S.Korea's GS Caltex shuts heavy oil upgrading unit after fire

GS Holdings

10/08/2017 02:00

SEOUL, Aug 10 (Reuters) - South Korea's second-largest oil 
refinery GS Caltex said that it had shut a heavy oil upgrading 
unit after it was hit by fire on Thursday morning. 
    The blaze, which is under control, broke out in the heavy 
oil upgrading unit, or Vacuum Residue Hydrocracker (VRHCR), at 
GS Caltex's No.2 plant in Yeosu, southwest of Seoul, a company 
spokesman said. 
    The VRHCR converts heavy oil into more expensive and cleaner 
fuel such as gasoline.  
    The spokesman said no injuries had been reported, adding 
that the cause of the fire and damage to the unit were still 
being assessed. 
    He said it was too early to tell if there would be any 
impact on the refinery's operations. 
    GS Caltex, equally owned by GS Energy Corp, a unit of GS 
Holdings  078930.KS  and U.S. oil major Chevron Corp  CVX.N , 
runs a 790,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Yeosu.  
 
 (Reporting by Jane Chung; Editing by Joseph Radford) 
 ((jane.chung@thomsonreuters.com; +82 2 3704 5667; Reuters 
Messaging: jane.chung.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: SOUTHKOREA GSCALTEX/FIRE