Strike cut Tesoro Calif. throughput by 19pc

OREANDA-NEWS. April 24, 2015. Turnaround work and a lengthy strike at Tesoro refineries cut first quarter west coast crude runs by 16pc and dropped California rates by 20pc.

The company disclosed that maintenance and strikes at its 168,000 b/d Golden Eagle refinery and 260,000 b/d Carson refinery in California cut company crude throughputs in the state by roughly 100,000 b/d compared to the same quarter of the previous year, to 422,000 b/d. The refiner is the state's largest by capacity.

Heavy crudes made up 10pc less of Tesoro's crude slate in the state over the same period, at 90,000 b/d.

The refiner's gasoline production at California facilities fell by 20pc compared to the same quarter of 2014, and diesel production plunged 40pc lower over the same period. Company-wide gasoline production fell by 15pc to 358,000 b/d and diesel fell by 28pc to 144,000 b/d.

Tesoro completed maintenance at Golden Eagle and at its 120,000 b/d refinery in Anacortes, Washington, and 58,000 b/d refinery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Chief executive Greg Goff said the company was back on track for 2015.

Adjusted profit for the quarter was still higher, at \\$124mn, compared to \\$78mn in the same quarter of 2014.