Work on American Refining Group’s hydrotreater project is moving
along.
On Wednesday, ARG President and Chief Operating Officer Harvey
Golubock said a hole has already been dug for the footers for the
hydrotreater, which will be situated in the refinery off North
Kendall Avenue.
“We’re under way,” Golubock said. “We are now filling the hole
we dug with concrete to make the footing and pad that the unit will
sit on.”
Late last year, the state Department of Environmental Protection
announced its intention to issue a plan approval to ARG for the
development of the hydrotreater, which is mandated by federal law
and will give the refinery the ability to provide ultra low sulfur
diesel fuel.
The $20 million project is still slated for completion in the
fourth quarter this year, according to Golubock.
“We are pretty much on schedule to have it going by year’s end,”
Golubock said. “It’s a little more complicated than just putting up
a building. We are moving along.”
In addition to digging for the footer, Golubock said some
demolition work has also begun on the old Number 1 brick powerhouse
building – which can be seen from the nearby U.S. Route 219
Bradford Bypass. The building will eventually be demolished. Its
contents will be moved to another location on the refinery grounds
to make way for the hydrotreater.
“Part of it (powerhouse) has been taken down,” Golubock said.
“We removed the tanks from the building and placed it elsewhere.
It’s a lot of hand work because of the close proximity to other
things. We’re making progress, but it’s slow.”
Golubock said there is no steel to erect for the actual
hydrotreater yet, adding a lot of the pieces are on order.
Refinery officials hosted a groundbreaking for the project on
Sept. 8. In addition to ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, the unit will
also enhance the refinery’s lube base stock production, which are
components used to make finished motor oil.
Officials said the project is several years in the making and
will help establish the long-term viability of the refinery.
