OREANDA-NEWS. PBF Energy will next year restart idled octane and chemicals equipment at its 190,000 b/d refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana.

The refiner will restart a reformer, naphtha hydrotreater and a hydrogen plant to produce low sulfur, octane-boosting reformate and other products from unfinished naphtha.

The equipment was idled by the refinery's previous operators, a joint venture of ExxonMobil and Venezuelan national oil firm PdV. PBF plans to bring the units online by in the second half of 2017.

The company will also build a new crude tank at the refinery to relieve congestion at its dock.

Improving storage will help the refinery reduce demurrage costs and open up more access to export refined products, though more was needed, chief executive Tom Nimbley said on an earnings call.