Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:33pm BST
NEW ORLEANS, Sept 18 (Reuters) Shell Oil Co. President John Hofmeister said conditions are favorable for an increase in refining capacity as the company moves closer to a decision on doubling the size of a joint-venture refinery in Texas.
“We make long-term decisions,” Hofmeister said. “We think that the long-term supply relationship with the marketplace says it’s now time for more manufacturing capacity.”
Shell has said it and joint-venture partner Saudi Refining plan to decide by the end of the year on increasing refining capacity at the 285,000 barrel per day (bpd) Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, to 600,000 bpd.