ExxonMobil is set to resume operations at its Torrance refinery in California, US, after it was closed last year due to an explosion that damaged the facility.
The 750-acre refinery was shutdown after the explosion rained ash on the surrounding area and injured four contractors.
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A piece of equipment known as an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was damaged due to the fire. The emission control device ESP eliminates fine particles from exhaust gas.
ExxonMobil is required to close the refinery’s pollution monitoring system for about six hours before restarting the facility.
South Coast Air Quality Management District AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood told Southern California Public Radio that when the explosion occurred, residents staying in Torrance close to the refinery experienced dust falling out onto their property.
Following a probe into the incident, ExxonMobil was fined more than $560,000 for health and workplace safety violations.
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By GlobalDataIn September 2015, ExxonMobil signed an agreement to sell the refinery to oil refining company PBF Energy for $527.5m.
PBF plans to increase the refinery’s capacity from its existing 155,000 barrels per day to 900,000.
Subject to repairs to the ESP and regulatory approval, the acquisition is expected to during the second quarter of 2016.
The refinery’s crude oil supply comes primarily from the San Joaquin Valley. It works with the company’s pipelines and terminals to supply nearly 10% of the gasoline sold in the Golden State.
