Phillips 66 refineries running amid pandemic
By Bernardo Fallas
Phillips 66 Corporate Communications
Phillips 66 is helping to fuel the response to the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. and beyond.
A leading energy manufacturing and logistics company and the third-largest refiner in the U.S., Phillips 66 continues to operate its refineries, pipelines and terminals as they are considered critical infrastructure by the federal government. Phillips 66 is also proactively taking steps to protect the health and safety of employees, their families and communities and prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
“There is a special obligation to provide energy during these trying times,” said Jay Churchill, Phillips 66’s Senior Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment, and Projects. “We are implementing best practices to protect the health and safety of our workforce and supporting actions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 while providing essential services to our communities and the country.”
The company is part of the U.S. energy industry, one of 16 sectors deemed critical infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The continuous operation of its assets during a time of crisis is considered vital to the health and welfare of the country and its economy.
Phillips 66 operates 11 refineries in the U.S. and manages more than 21,000 miles of hydrocarbons pipelines. Phillips 66 also operates the Humber Refinery in the U.K. and is part owner of the MiRO Refinery in Germany.
California, where Phillips 66 operates two refineries, was the first U.S. state to enact shelter-in-place orders March 19 to curb the spread of the virus. Nearly 40 other states have followed suit in the weeks since.
“The health and safety of our workforce are our top priorities as we combat the threat of COVID-19,” San Francisco Refinery General Manager Carl Perkins said. “We are taking multiple steps to minimize exposure while operating safely and reliably and will continue implementing proactive measures.”
All other Phillips 66 refineries, midstream assets and lubricants plants remain operational. Measures in place include social distancing, improved worksite disinfection and work-from-home policies, where possible. The latter also are in effect at the company’s headquarters in Houston and other office settings in the U.S. and abroad.
“It’s times like these when we really see our employees live the Phillips 66 values of safety, honor and commitment,” said Bayway Refinery General Manager Chris Gallo, whose plant is in the Northeast, the U.S. region hardest hit by the pandemic. “Everyone here is committed to maintaining the health and safety of the workforce.”
Employees at the refinery in Linden, New Jersey, are using electronic solutions and other creative ideas and measures to achieve social distancing and protect each other, the customers and their communities, Gallo said.
“These changes and measures are being implemented while meeting our obligation to provide needed fuel to our first responders and other critical-infrastructure industries.”
