CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery Celebrates 80 Years of Fueling Good in the State of Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, April 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Yesterday, the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery celebrated 80 years of operations in the great state of Texas. Hundreds of employees and retirees, as well as state and local officials, community leaders and nonprofit organizations, joined CITGO in the 80th Anniversary Celebration.  The refinery, which first went online in 1935, is one of the most complex fuel and petrochemical refineries in the United States. The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery also provides more than 1,000 jobs locally and is estimated to have a total economic impact of $345 million a year on the Corpus Christi community.

The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery has a current crude refining capacity of approximately 165,000 barrels per day (bpd) and a versatile product mix, including an average of 4.2 million gallons of gasoline per day. Not only does the refinery supply high-octane gasoline for automobiles, it also provides the basic building blocks necessary for making a wide assortment of products, from compact discs to carpets, aircrafts, windows and hosiery.

Today’s CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery has been designed, engineered and built to refine crude oils into high-quality, finished petroleum products. This reliable supply of primary raw material, together with the high-efficiency refining facility, positions the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery as a strong competitor in the global marketplace and a stable, long-term contributor to the Corpus Christi community.

“For 80 years our refinery has been an integral part of this community. The dedication and hard work of our employees have not only ensured that this refinery is now one of the most sophisticated and efficient petroleum and petrochemical refineries in the nation, but their commitment extends beyond the boundaries of our facilities,” said CITGO President and CEO Nelson P. Martínez. “Our employees actively participate in community projects that aim at improving the quality of life for all Corpus Christi residents.”

In addition to producing high-quality fuels for its network of nearly 6,000 independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations across the country, Corpus Christi Refinery employees are dedicated to supporting commerce, economic stability and community development in Corpus Christi, and actively seek out opportunities and partnerships that enable them to make an impact in the area. Nearly $3 million have been spent or donated to community organizations in the last three years alone, including more than half a million dollars donated in 2014 to local social, educational, environmental and health programs. In 2014, the refinery’s employees and retirees, and their families and friends, donated nearly 3,000 volunteer hours to 52 different community organizations in the Coastal Bend.

The Corpus Christi Refinery also supports a number of educational programs, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The refinery partners with the Foy H. Moody High School CITGO Innovation Academy to encourage students to pursue STEM curriculum and consider careers in the energy industry through courses in fields such as engineering design and development, civil engineering and environmental science. Through the Innovation Academy, CITGO has reached approximately 650 students. Additionally, the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery introduced a new education program called “First in Family” in 2011. In collaboration with the Corpus Christi Education Foundation and the Corpus Christi Independent School District, First in Family awards $1,000 scholarships to local high school students who are the first in their families to graduate from high school. In 2014, scholarships were awarded to 20 students from local high schools. Since the program’s beginning, more than 50 scholarships have been awarded.

About CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery
The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery provides more than 1,000 jobs locally, while generating more than $345 million per year in support of the local economy through salaries, services and taxes. In addition to producing high-quality fuels for its network of nearly 6,000 independently owned and operated CITGO branded stations across the country, Corpus Christi refinery employees make a major positive impact on the community. Over the last five years, CITGO and its employees have provided almost 13,000 volunteer hours and nearly $6 million in support of community organizations such as United Way, Charlie's Place, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Miracle League, Catholic Charities, the Special Olympics and a variety of environmental and preservation initiatives, such as the revitalization of the Gateway to Corpus Christi, Hans and Pat Suter Park and Adopt-A-Beach Clean Up. For more information on the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/corpus-christi. 

About CITGO
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.