Shell and Pemex to coordinate a responsible handover of operations

On May 24, 2021, Shell announced its plan to sell its interest in the Deer Park refinery to our joint venture partner, Pemex, pending regulatory approvals. Shell will continue to own and operate the co-located Deer Park Chemicals plant – just as Shell does today.

We expect to complete the sale by the end of 2021, and once this occurs, Pemex will operate the refinery, and Shell will operate the chemicals plant.

Transferring operatorship of the refinery to Pemex is a complex process that will take several months, and a key priority for both Shell and Pemex is to ensure a safe and responsible handover of operations for the refinery, with respect for our employees and the Deer Park community in which we operate, as well as our neighbors in Pasadena and La Porte.

Activities to make this transition a reality by the end of this year are currently underway, to ensure both the refinery and chemicals plant can continue safe operations under their respective owners. This includes structuring clear emergency response plans for each business and ensuring staff are available to support each of the facilities.

Many of the systems and processes in use at the Deer Park site today will still be in place going forward as the site becomes a home for both operators.

I know many in the community are eager to meet with Pemex and learn more about their company and vision for the Deer Park refinery. As our valued joint venture partner for nearly 30 years, they are familiar with the topics of interest and concern within the community and will join us at varying community meetings as we get closer to finalizing the sale in the latter part of 2021. For now, it’s important to recognize that Shell remains the operator of both the refinery and chemicals plant until the deal completes, and we are committed to providing the same level of communication about ongoing operations that our community has come to know and expect.

As activities around the sale continue, we will keep you informed of any relevant updates; however, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments regarding this transition.