REFINERY NEWS: Marathon to temporarily idle Martinez facility in California due to pandemic-induced demand destruction

New York — Refinery: Martinez, California

Owner: Marathon Petroleum

Capacity: 161,500 b/d

Duration: Beginning April 27

Notes: Marathon Petroleum will temporarily idle its 161,500 b/d Martinez, California, refinery as of April 27 for an unspecified amount of time, a company spokeswoman said Friday.

"COVID-19 and the public health response to it have negatively impacted the global economy and demand for our products. Accordingly, MPC will temporarily idle our Martinez, California, refinery as of April 27," Brianne Patterson said in an email.

This is the second refinery Marathon has temporarily idled operations due to the falling demand from stay-at-home orders to prevent contagion of the coronavirus. Last week, it idled the 26,000 b/d Gallup, New Mexico, plant for an unspecified amount of time due to falling demand.

Patterson said Marathon will continue to meet customer commitments despite the idling of the Martinez plant and said the company does "not anticipate supply disruptions in the region."

"At this time, the duration of the idle period is unknown; however, it is our intent to return to normal operations once demand levels support doing so," she wrote.

Marathon has a much larger refinery in Carson, California. To the north, it operates a 119,000 b/d refinery in Anacortes, Washington.