Exxon Baton Rouge shuts refining, petchem units: Update

ExxonMobil is shutting down units today at its 500,000 b/d refinery and petrochemical plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the face of widespread power outages and supply chain disruptions.

"Once we confirm we have access to needed feedstocks and third-party utilities to stabilize our systems, we will begin the process of returning to normal operations," the company said today.

The facility also has 1.023mn t/y of ethylene capacity and 1.597mn t/yr of polyethylene capacity.

The company previously said it was shutting "some units and equipment" as it worked to stabilize operations throughout the hurricane, which has left the greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas without power today.

ExxonMobil is working with independent distributors and wholesale fuels customers to satisfy fuel demand, with refined products being rerouted from unaffected regions into the US Gulf coast.

By Dylan Chase