Sunday, October 21, 2001

5 The refineries

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Refineries, like Koch's facility on Suntide Rd., not only bring a high level of technological and industrial clout to the local community, but they've also powered local job growth.

It used to be that refineries and chemical plants mostly got attention when something went wrong. But the industry has undergone an image makeover of sorts as it has experienced economic rejuvenation, met stricter environmental standards and added jobs while other cities face decline.
   Refineries also lend some international prestige to the city. Earlier this year, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Citgo's Corpus Christi operations. Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA operates Oklahoma-based Citgo.
   And then there was San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp.'s May announcement that it planned to buy Ultramar Diamond Shamrock for $6 billion. That acquisition, combined with company's bid to buy El Paso Energy Corp.'s local refinery, placed 1,000 Corpus Christi area employees on Valero's payroll. It also made Valero the nation's second-largest refiner of petroleum.
   Port Industries is a trade group with 13 port-related industries.
   Direct jobs locally: 9,000 to 10,000
   Spin-off jobs: 50,000
   Products: Range from asphalt to jet fuel to cosmetics to Plexiglas
   Combined payroll: Almost $1 billion
   National impact: Local refiners make up 5 percent to 7 percent of the nation's refining capacity.
   Buying power: More than $500 million in goods and services from local businesses and $900 million statewide
   Tax role: More than $185 million in local taxes, despite abatements
  
  

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