{"id":3045,"date":"2026-08-11T17:26:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T17:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3045"},"modified":"2026-08-11T18:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T18:12:08","slug":"us-white-house-mulls-reopening-shut-oil-refineries-over-rising-gasoline-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3045","title":{"rendered":"US: White House mulls reopening shut oil refineries over rising gasoline prices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>*<strong><em>The White House, in Washington, D.C., United States, is reportedly talking with private investors about reopening shuttered refineries, to boost refining capacity towards increasing gasoline supplies, and put downward pressure on retail prices, especially in regions with limited capacity<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect<\/p>\n<p>The Donald Trump administration in the White House, in Washington, D.C., United States (US), is discussing with private investors about reopening shuttered refineries, including a troubled facility on St. Croix, agency report said.<\/p>\n<p><em>ConsumerConnect<\/em> gathered the initiative, however, is unlikely to provide motorists with quick relief from high gasoline prices for energy consumers.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"f40BkxYXF1\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3041\">N456.5bn Debt: NERC appoints interim Board of &#8216;Special Directors&#8217; for Kaduna DisCo over mismanagement<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cN456.5bn Debt: NERC appoints interim Board of \u2018Special Directors\u2019 for Kaduna DisCo over mismanagement\u201d \u2014 Consumer Experience Is A Top Priority\" src=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3041&amp;embed=true#?secret=TetOiXKmsU#?secret=f40BkxYXF1\" data-secret=\"f40BkxYXF1\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>White House officials recently discussed reopening closed refineries from California to the US Virgin Islands with a range of potential investors, according to E&amp;E News by Politico, which cited three industry executives familiar with the talks.<\/p>\n<p>The administration\u2019s National Energy Dominance Council allegedly has connected interested investors with federal agencies that could help them understand regulatory requirements and other obstacles.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, officials also consulted with the Environmental Protection Agency about what would be required to restart mothballed facilities.<\/p>\n<p>Report further indicated the discussions came as the country&#8217;s national average price of regular gasoline stood at $4.10 per gallon late last week, according to AAA.<\/p>\n<p>That was up from $3.847 a month earlier and $3.147 a year earlier, according to report.<\/p>\n<p>Still, no agreements to purchase or reopen a refinery have been announced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>St. Croix oil refinery is a priority<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One facility receiving particular attention is the former Limetree Bay refinery on St. Croix.<\/p>\n<p>The large complex is strategically located near major shipping routes and was designed to process heavier grades of crude oil, including oil from Venezuela, in South America.<\/p>\n<p>The refinery operated for decades before closing 2012.<\/p>\n<p>A later owner spent billions of Dollars attempting to restart it, but the renewed operation lasted only a few months in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The EPA ordered the facility to pause operations after a series of incidents involving air pollution and oil releases.<\/p>\n<p>The agency said continued operations posed an imminent risk to public health.<\/p>\n<p>Residents reported illnesses and damage to their homes and property following some of the releases, according to the EPA\u2019s 2021 enforcement announcement.<\/p>\n<p>Any new owner would have to demonstrate that the refinery could operate safely and comply with federal and territorial environmental requirements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How reopening refineries might affect gas prices<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Refineries turn crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and other fuels.<\/p>\n<p>When refining capacity is tight \u2014 or when an operating refinery unexpectedly shuts down \u2014 the supply of finished gasoline can fall, causing wholesale and retail prices to rise.<\/p>\n<p>Reopening a large facility could add hundreds of thousands of barrels of daily processing capacity. That could increase fuel supplies, improve competition, and provide a cushion when other refineries undergo maintenance or suffer outages.<\/p>\n<p>The greatest price effect would probably occur in the markets directly served by a reopened plant.<\/p>\n<p>California, for example, uses a special gasoline blend and has limited connections to refineries elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>Adding capacity there could reduce the severity of regional price spikes.<\/p>\n<p>A St. Croix restart could help supply the East Coast and other Atlantic markets.<\/p>\n<p>Its effect on the nationwide average, however, would depend on the plant\u2019s size, the products it makes, transportation costs, and conditions in the global oil market.<\/p>\n<p>Crude oil remains the largest component of gasoline\u2019s retail price.<\/p>\n<p>If international oil prices continue rising because of war, production disruptions, or shipping problems, additional US refining capacity might soften the increase but would not necessarily reverse it.<\/p>\n<p>Relief would take time<\/p>\n<p>Restarting an idled refinery is much more complicated than turning machinery back on.<\/p>\n<p>Facilities that have been closed for years may require extensive inspections, equipment replacement, safety upgrades, and environmental work.<\/p>\n<p>Investors would also need confidence that the refinery could remain profitable long enough to recover the cost.<\/p>\n<p>Demand for gasoline is expected to face long-term pressure from improving fuel economy and the growing use of electric vehicles, making companies cautious about spending billions on facilities that may operate for decades.<\/p>\n<p>The Energy Information Administration classifies refineries according to whether their capacity is operating, idle, or permanently shut down.<\/p>\n<p>A refinery regarded as permanently closed would generally require much more work and investment than one that was recently idled.<\/p>\n<p>That means the White House discussions may improve the nation\u2019s long-term fuel security, but they are not likely to lower pump prices in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p>In the near term, motorists\u2019 costs will remain more closely tied to crude oil prices, refinery outages, gasoline inventories, and the course of geopolitical conflicts.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*The White House, in Washington, D.C., United States, is reportedly talking with private investors about reopening shuttered refineries, to boost refining capacity towards increasing gasoline&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"Photo Collage of US President Donald Trump and Recent Gasoline Price Template       Credit: 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