Far from the Texas coast, Hurricane Harvey hits oil refiners

New York

THREE weeks after Hurricane Harvey ravaged the massive fuel-making industry along the Texas coast, the region's recovery from storm damage is starting to disrupt plans for crucial maintenance at refineries thousands of kilometres away from the flood zones.

Harvey knocked out almost one-quarter of US refining capacity in late August, sending petrol and diesel prices soaring. The storm hit a few weeks before most of the nation's fuel makers were set to begin seasonal shutdowns.