Valero shutting Port Arthur, Texas, oil refinery after blast, say sources

Valero Energy

24/03/2026 03:45

HOUSTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Valero Energy Corp VLO.N shut its 380,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, oil refinery on Monday night following an explosion and fire at a diesel hydrotreater unit, said people familiar with plant operations.

The Monday night explosion at the 47,000-bpd 243 diesel hydrotreater unit rocked the region in east Texas on the Louisiana border, the sources said, with the blast heard as far as 11 miles away.

 (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

 ((erwin.seba@thomsonreuters.com; +1 832 746 4269; Reuters Messaging: erwin.seba.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))