July 28th, 2010 
Valero Energy Corp plans to restart its shut 235,000 barrel per day (bpd) Aruba refinery in September after completing an overhaul currently underway and if the plant can operate at a profit, Chief Executive Bill Klesse said in a statement this week. “When complete in September, this work will provide us the option to resume operations at the Aruba refinery if conditions are profitable and will enhance strategic alternatives for the refinery,” Klesse said. Valero had idled its Aruba refinery and sold off another plant in Delaware as it dealt with a string of quarterly losses.
In order to continue satisfying the nitrogen demand of refinery units and comply with quality, reliability and safety standards, Valero Aruba chose to build a new generation and distribution facility. With a vaporization capacity of 1.92 MMSCFD, Valero Aruba’s new nitrogen facility will be a great benefit and asset of the Aruba refinery. This project entails a capital investment of $1.8 million for the Valero Aruba Refinery. Local contractors, ALBO Aruba and CUSTOMS Contractors are the contractors involved in this civil phase of the project, while De Cuba Electrical Contractors will be involved with the electrical installation. The mechanical piping part of the project is in the design phase and will be ready in time to complete the project as scheduled.
The plant execution started in May 2010 and is scheduled to be operational by the second week of September 2010. The plant will be capable of producing up to 30,000 cubic feet/hour of nitrogen gas and 1,200 gallons of liquid nitrogen per day. The project is engineered and executed in close coordination with OXICAR who is the supplier of the equipment and future operator of the unit. For the purpose of administration and operation of the facility, OXICAR established a subsidiary local company GASTECH.
Valero Aruba appreciates the commitment of all involved parties and our employees that will make this project a reality while moving forward to a safe, event free and on scheduled completion of Valero Aruba’s New Nitrogen Facility.
Story courtesy of Aruba Today
