Flint Hills Plans 750 Million Upgrade

Flint Hills Resources has announced it will invest $750 million in its Pine Bend refinery. While most oil companies have seen a marked decrease in capitol spending, Flint Hills will begin its largest series of construction projects in over 10 years to replace or upgrade major equipment and add advanced emission controls. Pending state permits, the three years of projects will start in 2017 and employ 2,500 workers from at least 10 trades including pipe fitters, electricians, ironworkers and carpenters. The proposed projects would result in further decreases in nitrogen oxide emissions and lower the refinerys permitted emissions by 500 tons per year. The technology and efficiency upgrades would also improve production yields, allowing the 339,000 barrel-per-day refinery to produce more diesel fuel and gasoline without increasing permitted emissions.