CITGO opens ultra-low-sulfur diesel unit at Lemont refinery
CITGO Petroleum Corp. has completed the construction and startup of a major processing unit to produce ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) at its refinery in Lemont, Illinois. In compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, the unit is equipped with the latest technology designed to reduce, by 98%, the sulfur content of diesel transportation fuel produced at the refinery.
“Projects such as our innovative ULSD facilities underline our commitment to the environment and communities we serve. I am proud to join with employees and community leaders to launch this innovative facility,” said CITGO President and CEO Alejandro Granado.
The new unit has a production capacity of 42,500 bpd of ULSD, which constitutes the majority of Lemont’s overall distillate production of 55,000 bpd refined from heavy crude. The steps involved in producing ULSD include adding hydrogen to remove the sulfur from the diesel and then recovering and converting those sulfur compounds into elemental sulfur. This is then sold into the fertilizer market, an additional step in the company’s commitment to the environment.
The CITGO Lemont refinery will now be able to produce 100% ULSD, in addition to other high-quality refinery products such as gasoline, jet fuel and other specialty middle distillate products. The multi-year, multi-million dollar capital investment behind the innovative ULSD facility, which helped create 800 contractor jobs for the local community, also included upgrades to manufacturing units for all refined products.
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