Energy
Houston’s Oldest Refinery Is Shutting. It Won’t Be the Last.
- LyondellBasell’s 106-year-old refinery is ceasing operations
- More plants expected to close as industry gets leaner
After more than a century of churning out fuel on the banks of the Houston Ship Channel, the city’s oldest refinery is preparing to shut down, potentially putting hundreds of people out of work. Its competitors are welcoming its demise.
The closure of the plant — built by industrialist Harry Sinclair in 1918 and now owned by petrochemicals giant LyondellBasell Industries NV — reflects the struggles of a sector that’s declining along with demand for its central product.