ExxonMobil’s Beaumont Refinery Manager Rozena Dendy gives updates on the BLADE project

Introduction hey everybody it's Jeremy osterberger we're here in Beaumont at the Exxon Mobil Beaumont Refinery and I'm joined by Rosanna dendy she is Refinery manager here at Exxon Beaumont Regina thank you so much for making time for us absolutely thank you for having us here BLADE project update to be able to talk about the Beaumont Refinery expansion and bringing on increased diesel Supply that's right so we're talking blade Beaumont light atmospheric distillation expansion expansion a lot of folks have heard about this project started in 2019. Rosina tell us where we're at with the project yeah so we're very excited to be able to bring on the Beaumont Refinery expansion locally known here as blade here in the first quarter 23 is bringing on 250 000 barrels a day of additional fruit capacity and this is inside of a Refinery that we're already maximizing production of our 366 000 barrels a day and so we're excited it's a largest U.S refining expansion in almost a decade and it's happening right here in Southeast Texas and Rosanna we're still on Pace to get operational use by q1 2023 yes we are and we're pretty excited about it in our Workforce as well well fantastic yeah the last time we're here we're talking with Gene Weber and it was the summer of 2021 and I believe uh you know engineering and procurement had kind of wrapped up we started to put equipment in place so construction is happening and again still hit to hit that q1 Target yeah great absolutely Why did ExxonMobil invest in BLADE q123 stepping back brazina why did Exxon Mobil make this investment in play Exxon Mobil fully recognized that higher fuel prices is impacting everyone and what makes me proud is we're wanting to be a part of the solution and a part of bringing on additional diesel Supply to help with our actual customers with more affordable and reliable products U.S refining capacity is a focus for us as a country and us bringing on an additional 250 000 barrels a day it's going to increase take some more was U.S Gulf Coast capacity by 17 percent this is a medium-sized Refinery that we have right here inside of Southeast Texas it's unbelievable Rosanna to see it live and see it in person is just something different than a photo so totally appreciate you having us out let's talk about the scope of the project and kind of what's been unique to Blade here over the past three years not too many people have been responsible for a project during code yes so Beaumont Refinery What is BLADE expansion and locally known here is blade is really taking the 250 000 barrels a day so it brings on a third crude unit to our facility this is where we're taking uh Permian Basin crew from out in West Texas bringing it into this third crude unit using our Hydra treating facilities to make more diesel production and this is going to be great for the community it's going to be great for customers and families everywhere and servicing a little bit more about the uniqueness of this project the incredible how things were brought in primarily from The Dock of Courtney just is that correct also the modular units can expand a little bit about that of sort of how this this plant has come together so far yes and I I definitely How BLADE has come together want to make sure you understand the port of Beaumont have been absolutely phenomenal we brought in 16 process modules units here over 25 000 metric tons and we've been able to take this heavy equipment bring it up the Natchez River and being able to put it at our local dock here is called a roll-on roll-off type of dock right here near the project site and that's been incredibly important for the Neighbors in our community and minimizing the impact I do want to go back and reinforce we did make this uh investment through a pandemic and a time when many were actually I say stepping back Exxon mob will continue to invest in this project despite having the pandemic and also an economic downturn and so we've been incredibly proud for us being part of that solution it was in about 1600 contractors on site after blade is up and running operational use takes place about how many permanent roles we'll be uh will be here at blade we're very excited it's going to be adding on 40 to 60 new permanent jobs here Exxon Mobil area operations generate one in seven jobs in this region and so it's pretty exciting to see what permanent impact we're having as well as additional job roles we create as well Rosanna we're just so lucky to be here thank you for having us on site um you know you've had a career about 23 years or more with Exxon you know uh what what have you learned from this what has been some key takeaways from this experience so far yes uh for Exxon Outro Mobil having that long-term growth strategy one to where you can see even inside of a pandemic continuing to invest increasing diesel Supply additional 250 000 barrels a day being able to do that because they knew that the demand would recover and so when we see that high fuel prices are impacting everyone being able to look at that demand that demand is recovering Supply is tight and we're here as part of the solution of adding on more supplies and we're so happy to be a part of it our Workforce is very happy to actually have this blade Refinery expansion and that we're part of the solution not only for our nation but the broader global economy as well with the demands that everyone needs Rosie and I just want to say thank you so much for having out having us out appreciate your time and uh look forward to see the project wrap up absolutely first quarter 23 we're pretty excited about it thank you thank you thank you Jeremy foreign [Music]