Citgo Corpus Christi, Texas refinery production reduced

Production at Citgo Petroleum's 167,500-barrel-per-day (bpd) Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery was cut back on Tuesday following a power outage caused by Tropical Storm Harold, the company said in a statement.

"A portion of the Corpus Christi refinery lost power due to Tropical Storm Harold," Citgo said in the statement. "As a result, the plant is operating at reduced rates until power is fully restored."

People familiar with plant operations said a 50,000-bpd diesel hydrofiner, which is a mixed diesel hydrotreater, in the refinery's west plant was shut after several units developed minor malfunctions as the storm lashed Harold.

The hydrofiner had to be shut, the sources said.

The west plant is located 5 miles (8 km) west from the refinery's east plant, which adjacent to Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi refinery east plant.

A spokesperson for Flint Hills Resources did not reply to a request for information about operations at the company's 363,000-bpd Corpus Christi refinery.

The Corpus Christi Local Emergency Planning Committee has not received any notices from refineries or chemical plants in the area on Tuesday.

Valero Energy VLO did not reply to a request for information about its 290,000-bpd Corpus Christi refinery.