September 02, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- CITGO Petroleum Corporation is progressing with a $310 million project at its Lake Charles Refinery in Louisiana, aimed at improving the facility’s naphtha upgrading capabilities and strengthening its long-term competitiveness.
The Depentanizer Project will add new facilities and equipment designed to convert lower-value refinery streams into higher-value gasoline blend components. Once completed, the project is expected to provide greater operational flexibility and support CITGO’s ability to meet ongoing demand for transportation fuels in the US market.
According to CITGO Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Edgar Rincon, the investment forms part of the company’s broader approach to targeted capital spending across its refining operations. He said the project is intended to strengthen the resilience of the company’s refining system while highlighting the strategic importance of the Lake Charles facility.
The project is also expected to generate economic activity in Southwest Louisiana. In addition to supporting the refinery’s existing workforce, construction is expected to create additional contract opportunities and provide work for local suppliers and service providers involved in the region’s energy sector.
Sterling Neblett, CITGO Lake Charles Refinery vice president and general manager, said the project reflects the company’s continued investment in the facility and its surrounding communities.
Lake Charles Refinery
The Lake Charles Refinery has been operating in Louisiana since 1944, when it was established to support the US war effort by producing aviation fuel during World War II. Over the following decades, the refinery expanded and became CITGO’s largest refining facility.
Today, the refinery produces a range of products including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and petrochemicals, serving consumers and industrial customers across the US.
The facility is located along the Calcasieu Ship Channel, providing access to marine transportation and pipeline networks. Its location enables the refinery to receive a range of crude oils and distribute refined products to key markets through multiple logistics channels.
The Depentanizer Project is expected to further enhance the refinery’s ability to process domestic light crude and increase production of gasoline blend components.
CITGO expects the project to become operational in 2029. Engineering, construction and commissioning activities will continue in coordination with employees, contractors and local stakeholders as the development progresses.
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