BP to invest $130 million on clean fuels production

has announced plans to invest more than $130 million on new clean diesel facilities at its Whiting,

refinery, the fourth largest refinery in the

.

With the addition of a new Distillate Hydrotreater (DHT), the refinery will produce additional supplies of ultra low sulphur diesel fuel that meets or exceeds all on-road diesel regulations. The new unit will have the capacity to produce approximately 36,000 barrels per day of the ultra low sulphur diesel product.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require 15 ppm sulphur on-road diesel production beginning in June 2006 at which time 80% of the BP Whiting refinery’s on-road diesel fuel must meet the new EPA specification.

By January 2010 all on-road diesel must contain no more than 15 ppm sulphur. Off road diesel moves to the 15 ppm specification in 2010, with locomotive and marine diesel following in 2012.

Locally, the project will employ approximately 400 skilled workers during the peak construction period. BP has already begun preliminary work on the project and expects to complete construction in mid-2006.