Posted on 09/14/2014 10:10:28 AM PDT by Lorianne
PORT ARTHUR, Tex. — It is hard to imagine the desert sands of the Persian Gulf being any farther away than from this swampy refinery port known for Cajun food, sport fishing and being the birthplace of Janis Joplin.
But right in the middle of town stands a strategic outpost for Saudi Arabia’s global ambitions, although one that the Saudis appear loath to publicize.
The giant Motiva oil refinery, which just completed a $10 billion expansion that makes it the largest processor of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products in the United States, is owned by Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell in a 50-50 partnership.
Saudi Aramco’s investment in the refinery expansion is meant to ensure that Saudi Arabia will retain an important market for its crude in the United States at a time when American politicians are declaring their intention to wean the country off imported oil. Adding to the urgency for the Saudis is the fact that the United States is vastly increasing its production and replacing OPEC crude with that from oil sands in Canada.
The expansion of the Port Arthur refinery comes during a particularly complicated period in United States-Saudi relations, as the two countries try to manage changes sweeping the Arab world. While Riyadh has cracked down on dissent and generally resisted efforts to spread democracy in the region, the Obama administration has been less resistant to the changes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Does that mean that ISIS will own half of it when they take over Saudi Arabia?
The Saudis support ISIS.
Clifford hasn’t been keeping up with the business. Motiva has been in the US refining market for years.
http://www.motivaenterprises.com/terminals.html
Motiva is the third largest refiner in the Gulf Coast. We own and operate three refineries located in Covent and Norco, Louisiana and Port Arthur, Texas – with a combined refining capacity of over 1 million barrels of crude oil per day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motiva_Enterprises
Greenpeace wouldn’t touch the Saudis with 100 mile pole.
Yeah they valve their lives LOL!
Greenpeace are bunch of metrosexuals in that group
We are being colonized by the Obama Caliphate.
Yes, and we should do EXACTLY what the Saudi’s did to Britain to become who they are today,
CONFISCATE IT and THROW THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY
Or does anyone even remember how the Saudis became an Oil Producing Nation??? THEY STOLE IT FROM GREAT BRITAIN
Almost all the history of mankind is, at root, about conquest, thievery, looting, nepotism, tribalism, intrigue and a little trade on the side.
ISIS already owns a lot of hearts among our ‘peaceful’ muslim population.
They are worth more than the refinery.
The latter can easily be shut down.
I think that many Americans feel we should cancel ALL business with Saudi Arabia until The War on Terror has not had any incidents for 5 years.
Yes, that’s true. This is not the only refinery in the US the Saudis are involved in.
This article is about a year old but I thought it was relevant to what is going on now.
But you make a good point ... this is not the total of the Saudis involvement in US businesses and critical industries and infrastructure.
Funny, I didn’t hear Obama talk about any of this in his ISIS speech.
Then it became the Port Arthur Refinery, then Star Enterprises and finally Motiva in 2002. Saudi Arabia bought their stake in 1989.
It means that Ted will give it to Valero.
Good point!
Good luck with that. In addition to the refineries:
Distribution
Motiva’s Distribution business provides revenue through the receipt, storage, scheduling, accounting, and delivery of light refined products and bio-fuels to both internal and external Motiva customers.
Motiva owns and operates an extensive network of 35 terminals throughout the northeastern, southeastern, and Gulf Coast regions of the United States. These terminals, along with another 100+ contracted locations where product is stored on behalf of Motiva Distribution’s customers, provide a source of gasoline, distillate, jet and bio-fuel products that can then be further transported via tanker trucks, pipelines, railcars, and marine vessels.
As one of the largest petroleum products storage companies in the eastern United States, Motiva’s Distribution business has the depth, expertise, and experience to remain a leader in the petroleum products storage business.
Sales and Marketing
Motiva markets Shell gasoline in 49 states and the District of Columbia together with Shell Oil Products US. Together we lead the industry in national retail volume and market share in one of the world’s best known gasoline brands. We also refine and market gasoline and other petroleum products under the Shell brand across the eastern and southern parts of the US, providing product to over 8,200 Shell-branded retail outlets.
http://www.motivaenterprises.com/about.html
.........thank you for all that information and for responding to my post.
Notwithstanding your comments, Saudi Arabia, which I have visited (Jedda) is to world wide terrorism what a nuclear reactor is to power on an aircraft carrier. Meaning, they are the biggest supplier of cash to terrorists worldwide utilizing their Wahabbi system of mosques and immams.
Obviously NOT doing business with Saudi Arabia would not be pain free. To the extent Saudis are involved in Motiva, they would have to get uninvolved or Motiva will go away.
Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia should be declared an enemy state that we are at war with due to them funding billions to our enemies! At that point, maybe some of the Princes will wise up. The next step against Saudi Arabia is military unless they change their ways, in my opinion of course.
I would consider OPEC an enemy, but pretending we won’t do business with them is unrealistic.
Apparently for the last 25 years. This Saudi-U.S. company started in the late 1980's.
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