This happens each and every year at about this time:
US politicians continued their assault on oil
giant BP with demands to know why two of the oil company’s biggest
refineries are operating at half capacity right before the start of the
peak summer driving season.
Senator Pete
Domenici of New Mexico, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy
Committee, asked BP America chief executive Bob Malone to explain why
BP’s enormous refineries in Texas and Indiana are not running at full
capacity.
"Texas City and Whiting, Indiana,
are two of the five largest refineries in the United States, and the
American people rely upon the [petrol] from these facilities," Mr
Domenici said.
He has formally requested an
update on the status of the two refineries and told Mr Malone: "It is
essential that our nation’s refineries are fully functional and
operated in a safe and effective manner."
Every spring gas prices rise in the US. It could be, of course, that the oil companies are indded pricesetting, milking the consumer. It could also be that the legally required changeover from winter to summer fuel blends means that refining capacity must be taken offline, thus creating a supply disruption.
So I for one call for a full inquiry. Let’s find out what is causing this annual surge in prices shall we? The oil companies or the politicians?
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