BP Plans $3 Billion Project to Refine More Canadian Heavy Crude Oil in the U.S. Midwest

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

BP announced today that it has entered the final planning stage of a $3 billion investment in Canadian heavy crude oil processing at its Whiting Refinery. Reconfiguring the refinery also has the potential to increase its production of motor fuels by about 15%, which is about 1.7 million additional gallons of gasoline and diesel per day. Construction of the project is tentatively to begin in 2007 and be completed by 2011, pending regulatory approvals. “We appreciate BP’s choice of Indiana for this massive, landmark project,” said Governor Daniels. “In capital investment this is the largest we’ve had, and more construction workers will be hired for this project than to build the new Indiana Stadium and convention Center. The eyes of the whole state are on Northwest Indiana today, as they should be. This marks another huge step in Indiana’s economic comeback. “Dan Sajkowski, BP Whiting Refinery Manager and Vice President of BP Products North America Inc., said the company’s planned investment is expected to create jobs for approximately 2,500 workers during the peak of its three-year construction phase and 60 to 80 permanent full-time employees to operate enhanced processing units and other refinery improvements.