File photo
File photo
Trafigura and Phillips 66 are teaming up to bring two single-point moorings about 20 miles east of the entrance to the Port of Corpus Christi.
This plan is moving forward in place of an oil export terminal off the shore of Padre Island National Park.
Single-point moorings allow large crude carriers to load up to 2 million barrels of oil per ship offshore with little disruption to the community or natural wetlands. Pipelines carry the crude from land to the single-port mooring.
Trafigura's first attempt in 2018 was rebuffed by the Port of Corpus Christi, which said offshore terminals did not properly contain vapors during loading.
The Port Aransas Conservancy has been critical of the port's dredging projects and plans to build terminals on Harbor Island. The conservancy would prefer that larger vessels stay out to sea, away from Port Aransas residents and marine life.
Trafigura withdrew its permit request for an oil terminal off Padre Island National Seashore. This joint venture between Trafigura, Phillips 66 and Bluewater Texas Terminal LLC is in the permitting stage.
“We are committed to developing a project that provides economic benefits for the local economy while being designed to ensure safe and environmentally sustainable operations,” Phillips 66 said in a media release to Corpus Christi Business News.
“The Port of Corpus Christi welcomes Phillips 66 and Trafigura. Charles Zahn Jr., Port of Corpus Christi Authority commission chairman, said in a news release. "This project is indicative of the need for additional U.S. and Texas energy export infrastructure and we couldn’t be more thrilled by these two reputable companies joining forces.”
The project is opposed by the Corpus Christi City Council, the Aransas Pass and Ingleside chambers of commerce, San Patricio County and Corpus Christi economic development corporations, the city of Gregory, and the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Port of Corpus Christi is a leader in U.S. crude oil export ports and is the fourth-largest port in the United States in total tonnage.
Alerts Sign-up