PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Phillips 66 representatives are back in town to talk about their proposed offshore oil terminal project.
It would be built about 15 miles from San Jose Island.
But there is a major difference between what Phillips 66 has planned and the proposal by the Carlyle Group in conjunction with the Port of Corpus Christi.
And that is there would be no on-shore loading of crude here by Phillips 66.
A spokesperson with the company told me today, that their proposed Harbor Island facility would be a pumping station to speed up oil pressure on its way to the offshore terminal.
That terminal would simply be a buoy in the gulf, like the one you're seeing now.
Phillips 66 has operated a similar import terminal off the UK since the early 1970s with no incidents.
The company believes it can build and operate a terminal here, with similar success.
“A lot of it has to do with the routing, and following existing corridors where development has already occurred,” Rich Johnson said. “Also, the location offshore is a good location from an environmental perspective.”
This project is the subject of a public meeting - going on right now - held by the Maritime Association. The federal agency which deals with projects like this.
Representatives from Phillips 66 are there to answer any questions from the public.
We’ll have more from a public meeting at the Omni Hotel downtown later this evening.
He’ll have a wrap-up of what happened tonight at 10 p.m.
