Citgo Renews Commitment to Community With New Facility

The Lemont Citgo Refinery celebrated a major milestone in its commitment to the environment Thursday with the opening of a new diesel processing facility.

The refinery, located at New Avenue and 135th Street, held a special reception to introduce its Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) unit, which will reduce vehicle sulfur emissions by 98 percent, according to a Citgo news release.

Jim Cristman, vice president of the Lemont refinery, welcomed dozens of Citgo employees and distinguished guests to the event, including state Sen. AJ Wilhelmi, state Reps. Elizabeth Hernandez and Renee Kosel, Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves and representatives from local police and fire departments.

"We're all here today to celebrate this important new addition to the community," Cristman said.

Also in attendance was Citgo President and CEO Alejandro Granado, who gave a special presentation about what the new ULSD facility means for both the company and the community.

"This is a new milestone in the Lemont refinery," Granado said. "And today is a dual celebration, as this takes places just days after the celebration of our 100th anniversary."

The Citgo refinery employs more than 800 local residents, and generates $350 million each year in support of the local economy, Granado said.

"We believe we are in business to serve people," he said. "When a business is defined by who it serves and not what it serves, social responsibility becomes more important."

The production of ULSD will have "huge environmental returns," Granado added. He called the new facility a "win-win" for Citgo Petroleum, Lemont, the state of Illinois and people who live near the refinery.

"We must be socially committed to the community by doing the right thing even when it's not the most popular thing to do," Granado said.

Citgo committed $700 million to the production of ULSD in all three of its refineries, Granado added. The investment toward the Lemont facility helped create 800 new contractor jobs for the local community, according to a news release from Citgo.

"The biggest impact this facility has on Lemont is the number of jobs it creates for our economy," Mayor Reaves said. "There are a core group of people who live in Lemont who have worked here for generations."

In addition to providing jobs for local workers, Citgo also has donated thousands of dollars and volunteer hours to support community programs, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and several environmental organizations.

"This is just another example of Citgo working to make sure the air is cleaner and working to support and give back to the community," Reaves said.