Valero Energy is to expand the crude unit capacity of its McKee refinery in Texas by 25,000 barrels per day over the next three years.

To increase the charge rate, the refinery will process West Texas Intermediate crude oil from Midland.

With the expansion, the new crude oil processing capacity of the McKee refinery will be 195,000 barrels per day.

The expansion will include looping an existing pipeline from the firm’s storage facility in Perryton, Texas, and the construction of additional pump stations and storage facilities to bring more crude to the McKee refinery.

Valero’s executive vice-president and chief commercial officer Joe Gorder said the expansion plans will allow the firm to capitalise on the production of West Texas and locally produced crude.