Par Hawaii broke ground Thursday on a $27 million distillate hydrotreater that will produce clean, ultra-low sulfur diesel and enable the Kapolei- based refinery to produce more jet fuel — two products that are in high demand in the state.
“This refinery was closed and not operating five years ago and the employees faced a tenuous future,” said Richard Creamer, vice president and general manager of Par Hawaii’s refinery, which has the capacity to process 94,000 barrels of crude oil per day. “Par saw the potential for the refinery and, with support from all of our employees and the community, we have made a complete, 180-degree turnaround.”
Gov. David Ige, along with other government and business leaders, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony held at Par Hawaii’s refinery. Construction on the distillate hydrotreater is expected to start this month and is targeted for completion next year.
The refinery currently produces about 25,000 barrels — or more than 1 million gallons — of jet fuel each day. But the volume does not adequately meet the state’s need; the state imports about 15 percent of its jet fuel to meet current demand.
“We currently blend renewable fuels into our gasoline products and are exploring ways to make renewable diesel on a larger scale, but there currently is no viable commercial alternative for jet fuel,” Creamer said.
The distillate hydrotreater, designed to remove sulfur, will not only provide a cleaner fuel, but also will enable the refinery to help meet additional in-state demand from commercial airlines and the military.
ON THE MOVE
Howard Hughes Corp. has announced new employees in its local leadership team at Ward Village:
>> Dan Cooke is a new sales executive; he has 15 years of experience as a Realtor specializing in general real estate and project sales. Cooke was a weather anchor for Sunrise on Hawaii News Now for the past nine years.
>> Marisa Gey is also another new sales executive; she served as a property specialist at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, for the past five years. Gey has 18 years experience in the real estate industry, including at Trump International Hotel and Tower Waikiki.
