A fluid catalytic cracking unit at PBF Energy's 157,000 b/d Martinez refinery is expected to begin production in a matter of days, bringing the Northern California fuel maker to a full restart following a disruptive fire 14 months ago, Chief Executive Matt Lucey said.
In a Thursday call to discuss PBF's first-quarter results with analysts, Lucey said the FCC unit should be making finished products this weekend.
In addition, Martinez's catalytic feed hydrotreater and alkylation units are both currently producing finished products as well as intermediaries required for the startup of the FCC, Head of Refining Michael Bukowski said during the call.
In January, PBF said it would extend repair work on the Martinez refinery into February after it pushed back a planned late-2025 restart. The refinery has been running at between 85,000 and 105,000 b/d since the second quarter of 2025.
The FCC is a key part of an oil refinery in making gasoline and the alkylation unit produces high octane gasoline blending components.
In addition, Bukowski said PBF's 166,200 b/d Torrance refinery in Southern California has completed a turnaround in early Q1.
On the Middle East supply disruption, Lucey said PBF's complex coastal refineries are well positioned to capitalize on a volatile market compared to its peers, and the company should benefit from the consumption of the relatively cheaper heavy and sour crude in the long run.
PBF operates six refineries in California, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio, as well as its St. Bernard Renewables 50-50 joint venture with Italian oil major Eni.
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Reporting by Frank Tang, ftang@opisnet.com; Editing by Bayan Raji, braji@opisnet.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 30, 2026 10:46 ET (14:46 GMT)
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