Torrance Refining Co. To Boost Power Supplies To Prevent Flaring In Power Outages

TORRANCE, CA -- The owners of the Torrance Refining Co. agreed Thursday to a series of steps aimed at bolstering the power supply for its oil refinery and reducing the number of flaring incidents caused by electrical outages.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Board approved an administrative order that sets timelines for enhancing backup-power systems, and requires the company to demonstrate reliability improvements that would be made under a proposal by the company to install a dedicated underground power supply line for the refinery.

"The Torrance refinery flared on three occasions last year following power interruptions including one incident when the city issued a shelter-in- place order," said Wayne Nastri, the AQMD's executive officer. "Today's order is the result of a successful collaboration between SCAQMD, the Torrance refinery and Southern California Edison to identify improvements that will enable the refinery to better withstand power interruptions that can cause flaring incidents."

AQMD officials noted that plans to build a dedicated underground power system "could take seven to eight years and will cost tens of millions of dollars." In the meantime, refinery officials agreed to a series of steps, including:

• preparing a public outreach and community relations plan within 90 days, including updates on the Torrance City Council and Torrance Refinery Community Advisory Panel;
• developing a computer model within 180 days to demonstrate how proposed upgrades from the 66-kilovolt system to a 22-kilovolt system will bolster electrical reliability;
• providing refresher training to refinery workers on procedures during power outages;
• providing evidence that existing backup power supply systems are maintained and operational; and
• completing evaluations within 270 days of "critical safety devices" and select utility systems, and implementing improvements in those systems within one year of the evaluations.

Flaring incidents occurred due to power outages at the refinery on March 16, Sept. 19 and Oct. 11-12 of last year. During the Oct. 11 outage, the refinery flared for more than 39 hours, prompting more than five dozen complaints from residents and triggering a public-nuisance violation notice from the AQMD.

Flaring is done to reduce gas pressure in the refinery's systems when power outages occur.

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the Torrance Refinery