US refiners say will defer maintenance to boost supply: Bodman

Washington (Platts)--8Sep2005

US refineries have told the Department of Energy that they plan to defer
scheduled repairs and maintenance to help compensate for the loss of refinery
capacity elsewhere because of Hurricane Katrina, Energy Secretary Samuel
Bodman said Thursday.
     Bodman, following a speech to the National Association of Towns and
Townships in Washington, said DOE has been in contact with refineries since
the hurricane struck the Gulf Coast last week to keep track of their
operations. Bodman said some refineries indicated they would put off repairs
and maintenance, although he did not say how many.
     He added that the department would not object if a refinery went ahead
with such activities for safety reasons. "That's really a matter for
individual companies," he said.

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