One way of life saved, another to be determined for Delco refineries

Our thanks to U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7, who joined us last night for our live-stream Internet broadcast, ‘Live From the Newsroom.’



If you missed it, you can catch the replay here.



Meehan explained how soon after both Sunoco and Conoco announced last fall that they planned to get out of the refining business and sell their local refineries – or shutter them if no buyers came forward – that he first heard from the folks at Delta.



The airline, which spends a fortune on jet fuel, was toying with the idea of operating their own refinery.



That conversation kickstarted a marathon series of discussions that culminated with that press conference in Trainer this week, and word that Delta was buying the ConocoPhillips refinery and refining its own jet fuel there. In the process it is likely to save 400 jobs.



Sunoco remains another matter. Meehan indicated he was still hopeful that the company’s joint venture with the Carlyle Group leads to some “deep pocket” investors who will continue to operate the South Philly plant as a refinery.



The same apaprently is not going to happen at Sunoco’s iconic Marcus Hook refinery. Meehan concurred with most who indicate there now is little chance of that plant continuing to operate as a refinery.



The best bet for its future seems to be to tap into the state’s burgeoning Marcellus shale operations, either as a terminal or storage facility.



How many jobs that type of operation will creat and/or save is to be determined.



But it’s pretty clear that while one way of life has been saved in Trainer, another is still to be determined in Marcus Hook.



You can read our editorial on the refinery issues here.


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