In the United States (US), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), a leading, integrated, downstream energy company has announced that its Board of Directors has approved plans to convert its Martinez Refinery in Martinez, California (CA) into a renewable fuels manufacturing facility.
According to a statement, converting the Martinez facility from refining petroleum to manufacturing renewable fuels signals MPC’s “strong commitment” to producing a substantial level of lower carbon-intensity fuels in California.
Marathon Petroleum is focused on meeting the world’s growing energy needs and reducing its carbon emissions intensity. Converting the Martinez refinery to a renewable fuels facility is an important addition to our growing portfolio of renewables projects and aligns with our strategic priorities of strengthening the competitive position of our assets, implementing commercial strategy changes, and strategically deploying our capital, MPC President and CEO Michael J. Hennigan said.
The Martinez facility is expected to start producing renewable diesel in 2022, with a build to full capacity in 2023. Engineering work is underway and MPC has already applied for relevant permits.
At full capacity, MPC expects the Martinez facility to produce about 730 million (US) gallons (≈ 2.76 billion litres) per year of renewable fuels – predominantly renewable diesel – from such biobased feedstocks as animal fat, soybean oil, and corn oil.
The Martinez conversion is also consistent with MPC’s companywide commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity – emissions per barrel of oil equivalent processed – 30 percent below 2014 levels by 2030.
MPC estimates its conversion of the Martinez facility from petroleum refining to renewable diesel production will reduce the facility’s manufacturing GHG emissions by 60 percent, total criteria air pollutants by 70 percent, and water use by 1 billion gallons (≈ 3.875 billion litres) every year.
