STX Refinery Back on Track
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STX Refinery Back on Track
M.A. Dworkin
St. Croix - Given the current position of the Trump Administration on maximizing American fossil fuel production, it appears the future of the refinery on St. Croix has shifted decidedly in favor of an inevitable restart.
“You’ve probably heard that refineries are closing down. We are going to be starting one back up,” said David Johnson, Director of Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation (PHRT) on St. Croix. “Our plans are to successfully restart the refinery, as it was, as a first stage when it was Limetree, with 220,000 barrels of production per day.”
Mr. Johnson spoke candidly as a panelist at the recent 2026 Economic Development Summit held on St. Croix, which included a gathering of expert panelists speaking about economic and workforce issues that were currently affecting the USVI, and to that respect how the future might take shape.
Mr. Johnson did not seem to feel that bringing the refinery back up to production grade or hiring employees was an impediment to opening.
“It’s not going to be a major construction project,” he said. “We’re going to be hiring a lot of people. We are going to prioritize the hiring of locals. Right now, we are feeling very good about hiring. We have a pool of past employees that many are willing to come back to work here.”
Mr. Johnson said they are looking to invest around $3 to 4 billion in restarting the refinery. He feels confident that with the White House policy on energy that he will find the investors.
“We are getting direct feedback from the White House and our major oil company supply and outtake partners, and they want to see us eventually expand production as much as possible,” stated Mr. Johnson. “Our next phase is around 360,000 barrels per day.”
Governor Albert Bryan Jr recently spoke of the opportunities that lie ahead for the St. Croix refinery now that the Trump Administration has come out in favor of increased domestic petroleum production.
“The refinery on St. Croix was once among the most important energy facilities in the Western Hemisphere,” said the Governor. “Its location, deepwater access, storage capacity and role in fuel and logistics make it a strategic American asset, especially at a time of global uncertainty, volatile energy markets and supply chain risk.”
Since taking office, Governor Bryan has worked to position St. Croix as part of the national energy solution. His Administration has met with investors, refinery operators, energy developers and infrastructure partners to advance opportunities tied to a refinery restart, fuel storage, marine logistics, and broader industrial development.
“For years. I have said that restarting the refinery on St. Croix is not just a local economic issue. It is a matter of national importance. The United States needs stronger, more resilient refining and fuel logistics capacity, and St. Croix can and should be part of that solution.”
Apparently President Trump is in total agreement with those goals. His recent ‘Presidential Determinations’ that he issued under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act is an important federal recognition of the national value of domestic petroleum production, refining, fuel logistics, and energy infrastructure.
PHRT won the bankruptcy auction for the St. Croix refinery on December 21, 2021, with the deal officially closing on January 21, 2022. In November 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the refinery would require a new, comprehensive Clean Air Act permit before any operations could resume. In August 2024, the EPA and PHRT entered into a legal agreement to address Clean Air Act compliance and safely remove leftover hazardous chemicals on the site.
Mr. Johnson spoke of the other advantages once the refinery reopens.
“We have permits to operate gas turbines that can make nearly 100 megawatts of power. To put that into perspective, the whole island of St. Croix, at its peak, needs about 41 megawatts, he said.
The PHRT owner spoke confidently about having “some very serious interest from investors” and President Trump’s recent oil and gas policy declarations. “If you own an oil refinery, you’re pretty happy about his policy.”
“We will restart the Refinery,” said Mr. Johnson at the Economic Development Summit. “I didn’t come this far to only come this far…We are excited about the opportunity to be restarting the refinery.”