Overview
- The Port Arthur refinery, which exploded Monday evening, now has the unit fire described as essentially out, with all workers accounted for and no reported injuries.
- Local authorities said a malfunctioning industrial heater is the likely cause, though formal investigations by regulators and the company are still underway.
- Operations were curtailed, and sources told Reuters Valero plans a restart later this week as engineers assess damage to a diesel hydrotreater and work to isolate the affected unit.
- Residents reported homes shaking and a sulfur-like odor as shelter-in-place orders, highway closures on SH 82 and SH 87, and at least one nearby school closure disrupted daily life.
- The 380,000–435,000 barrel-per-day plant is a major Gulf Coast hub, and while some outlets linked the incident to broader oil-market tensions or floated sabotage chatter, officials urged reliance on monitored air data and the ongoing probe.