A huge expansion at Motiva's 285,000-barrel per day Port Arthur, Texas, refinery is going forward, although it will be completed two years later than originally planned, Shell Oil Co (RDSa.L) President Marvin Odum said Monday.
Motiva, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Shell, in March announced the project's completion would be delayed by two years to 2012, leading to speculation it would be canceled altogether as the recession continues to crush U.S. demand for motor fuels.
"It's proceeding," Odum told Reuters after participating in a panel discussion at the Offshore Technology Conference.
A Shell spokeswoman added that the project to add 325,000 barrels per day to the Port Arthur refinery's capacity was expected to come on line during first quarter of 2012, although "the pace of construction remains subject to change and is dependent on market conditions as well as safe, efficient and cost effective construction activity."
Motiva, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Shell, in March announced the project's completion would be delayed by two years to 2012, leading to speculation it would be canceled altogether as the recession continues to crush U.S. demand for motor fuels.
"It's proceeding," Odum told Reuters after participating in a panel discussion at the Offshore Technology Conference.
A Shell spokeswoman added that the project to add 325,000 barrels per day to the Port Arthur refinery's capacity was expected to come on line during first quarter of 2012, although "the pace of construction remains subject to change and is dependent on market conditions as well as safe, efficient and cost effective construction activity."
