US refiners face severe labour shortage in 2017

New York

AFTER years of running flat out, US Gulf Coast refiners are lining up repairs to plants in 2017 - but facing a severe labour shortage that could delay work, drive up costs and raise accident risks.

Fuel producers such as Marathon Petroleum Corp and Valero Energy Corp have delayed routine work in the past 24 months amid high margins. Those margins collapsed this year in a global fuel supply glut, providing an incentive for refiners to undertake the shutdowns necessary for maintenance.

But refiners are no…