Valero's whole Houston plant to shut 31-days on Jan 21 Thursday December 21, 12:09 PM EST NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Valero said Thursday it plans to shut its 115,000 barrel per day (bpd) Houston refinery January 21 for 31 days maintenance.

"We're going to bring down the entire refinery for a turnaround," said spokesman Greg Matula.

The refinery produces approximately 54,000 bpd of gasoline, 37,000 bpd of distillates, according to the San Antonio, Tx-based independent refiner.

In addition, Valero reaffirmed plans to do maintenance on two of its three crude distillation units at its Texas City refinery for a month starting December 30. The units have a combined capacity of 88,000 barrels per day.

Valero said planned work at its Paulsboro, New Jersey refinery's reformer and hydrotreater has already been done -- completed in early December after being pushed forward from January.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), December 22, 2000