Shell Bakersfield Refinery

KESQNewsChannel3: Companies show interest in Shell’s Bakersfield refinery

23 Sept 04

LOS ANGELES Shell Oil says it has received interest from more than 70 companies to buy its Bakersfield refinery that produces two percent of California’s gasoline.

Shell had agreed to delay the planned closure of the refinery to allow for more time to find a buyer. Shell says more than 20 companies have signed confidentiality agreements, allowing them to enter the sales process.

The company says no new companies will be allowed to enter the sales process.

If no agreement can be reached with a company, Shell said the refinery closure plan will continue. Shell President Lynn Laverty Elsenhans has agreed to keep the refinery running through March 31st _ six months later than the October first planned shutdown date. read more

San Jose Mercury News: Problems mount for sale of Bakersfield refinery, sources say

“We’ll explore our options if we believe Shell is not acting in good faith.”: “Lockyer and the Federal Trade Commission have already launched investigations into whether a shutdown would violate antitrust laws.”

ANDREA ALMOND

Associated Press

Posted 16 Sept 04

LOS ANGELES – Shell Oil Co. wants to sell its Bakersfield refinery without the vital pipelines, onsite oil storage tanks and other equipment needed to run it, sources familiar with the situation say.

The company’s refusal to include key parts in a deal could dissuade buyers from purchasing the operation, which produces 2 percent of California’s gasoline and 6 percent of its diesel. That could result in permanent closure of one of only 13 California refineries that make the clean-air fuel the state requires. read more

San Diego Union Tribune: Oil company in talks with potential buyers

“the attorney general will continue an antitrust probe of Shell. The Federal Trade Commission also has been investigating the proposed shutdown.”

By Craig D. Rose
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 14, 2004

Shell Oil Co. says its Bakersfield refinery is uneconomical because crude oil supplies in the area are declining.

Shell Oil Co. said yesterday it will delay closing its Bakersfield oil refinery to allow more time for a possible sale of the facility, which produces 2 percent of the state’s gasoline and 6 percent of its diesel oil.

Shell said it is in discussions with several potential buyers and will keep it open at least through Dec. 31 and probably through March 31, 2005, six months beyond the earlier shutdown date of Oct. 1. read more

The New York Times: Shell Delays Closure of Calif. Refinery

“an antitrust investigation into Shell’s decision to close the refinery will continue.”

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 13, 2004
Posted 14 August 04

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shell Oil Co. has agreed to delay the planned closure of a Southern California oil refinery that produces 2 percent of the state’s gasoline to allow more time to find a buyer and negotiate a sale, state officials said Friday.

The decision is “a welcome show of cooperation with our effort to keep open this refinery, which is crucial to helping protect California drivers from even higher gas prices than they already pay,” state Attorney General Bill Lockyer said in a statement. read more

The Wall Street Journal: Calif Senator Challenges Shell’s Efforts To Sell Refinery

“Federal Trade Commission confirmed that it has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Shell’s decision to close the refinery”

By BETH HEINSOHN

July 8, 2004 6:03 p.m.

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK — U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has taken a new tack in challenging Royal Dutch/Shell Group (RD,SC) unit Shell Oil’s plan to shut its refinery in Bakersfield, Calif., by questioning whether the company is making sufficient efforts to sell the facility.

Shell ‘s plan to close the 70,000 barrel a day refinery by Oct. 1 is raising fears along the West Coast of a further squeeze on an already tight motor fuels market, where consumers for years have paid the highest prices in the continental U.S. read more