Suncor refinery shuts down, to stay closed for months

by: Lanie Lee Cook

Posted: Dec 29, 2022 / 03:56 PM MST

Updated: Dec 29, 2022 / 07:49 PM MST

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Suncor refinery in Commerce City will be closed for months, and experts say drivers will see the effects in fuel prices.

Suncor announced the shutdown on Wednesday after two employees were hurt in a fire at the refinery on Saturday. While Suncor did not mention the incident in its announcement, it said the refinery began to shut down the same day after extreme weather led to damaged equipment.

“It was determined that the entire facility would be shut down and put into safe mode to allow for the inspection of all units and repair of the damaged equipment,” Suncor’s statement said in part.

The refinery employs about 500 people. Suncor says it buys crude oil from the Denver-Julesburg Basin to process in Commerce City, selling 95% of the products within Colorado. That includes gasoline, diesel, paving asphalt and jet fuel, including about a third of the jet fuel used at Denver International Airport.

Suncor makes up 35-40% of the gasoline and diesel market, “depending on time of year,” according to Grier Bailey, spokesperson for the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association.

Bailey said wholesale and diesel prices will increase, with the effects to reach retail consumers “within days.”

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here we go..

https://kdvr.com/news/local/suncor-refinery-shuts-down-to-stay-closed-for-months/