据油气新闻网9月18日报道，据三位知情人士透露，达美航空公司（Delta Air Lines）计划在其位于宾夕法尼亚州的Trainer炼油厂开始接收可再生燃料原料，这是一项可以减少数亿美元环境义务战略的一部分。
此举表明，达美航空子公司门罗能源（Monroe Energy）的战略发生了转变。
美国可再生燃料标准（US Renewable Fuel Standard）要求炼油厂每年向国家燃料池中加入越来越多的生物燃料，否则就需向炼油厂购买合规信用额度。
达美航空10年前为了节省航空燃油成本而收购了宾夕法尼亚炼油厂，这是航空公司首次收购炼油厂。
该炼油厂预计将开始进口大豆油等农产品，大豆油可用于生产满足联邦混合要求的生物质柴油。
达美航空拒绝置评，但参考其最近的气候游说报告，该报告称门罗公司在进行了额外的经济和运营分析后，正在评估生产可持续航空燃料和其他可再生燃料。
没有这种能力的炼油企业过去在信用额度上积累了大量头寸，并试图向政府施压，要求降低它们的债务，以避免支付它们声称会威胁到业务生存能力的款项。
门罗能源过去每年不得不支付数亿美元购买合规信用，称其混合能力有限。
该公司目前正在整修日产18.5万桶的Trainer炼油厂的两个大型储油罐。据两名知情人士透露，一个储油罐已经完工，第二个定于下个月完工。其中一位消息人士称，这些油罐将用于混合生物燃料。
据市场消息人士称，大多数商业炼油厂每天购买RIN信用额，以避免积累大量负债和价格波动的风险，但Monroe能源近年来放缓或停止了购买，因为EPA因疫情推迟了合规期限。
据路透社报道，门罗能源去年推迟了购买RIN的计划，因为它认为RIN的价格将会下跌，或者公司将获得豁免，不必支付他们的债务。然而，根据Refinitiv的数据，这些价格基本保持不变。该公司必须在明年之前购买这些信用额度。
根据其最近的季度收益，该炼油部门在2022年6月的信贷缺口为5.56亿美元。
随着地缘政治冲突后全球炼油利润率飙升，达美航空的炼油收入今年大幅飙升。
今年上半年，达美的炼油部门盈利3.23亿美元，而2021年上半年亏损2.83亿美元。这家炼油厂自被该航空公司收购以来一直难以盈利，该航空公司曾数次试图出售该公司。
郝芬 译自 油气新闻网
原文如下：
Delta Air Lines to start refining biofuels in Pennsylvania
Delta Air Lines plans to start receiving shipments of renewable fuel feedstocks at its Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania as part of a strategy that could reduce its environmental liabilities by hundreds of millions of dollars, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The move suggests a shift in strategy for Delta subsidiary Monroe Energy, which in the past has been among the smaller refiners that have tried to pressure the US Environmental Protection Agency and the White House to reform biofuel laws.
The US Renewable Fuel Standard requires refiners to blend an increasing volume of biofuels into the nation’s fuel pool each year or buy compliance credits from those who do.
Delta bought the Pennsylvania oil refinery 10 years ago in order to save money on jet fuel costs, the first-ever purchase of a refinery by an airline.
The refinery is expected to start importing agricultural products such as soybean oil, which can be used to make a biomass-based diesel that satisfies federal blending requirements.
Delta declined to comment, but referenced its most recent climate lobbying report, which states that Monroe is evaluating producing sustainable aviation fuel and other renewable fuels after conducting additional economic and operational analysis.
Refiners without that capability have in the past accumulated big positions in these credits, and have tried to pressure the federal government to reduce their liability to avoid making payments they claim threaten the viability of their businesses.
Monroe Energy in the past has had to pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year buying compliance credits, saying it had limited blending ability.
The company is now refurbishing two large tanks within the complex of the 185,000 barrel-per-day Trainer refinery. One tank is completed, and the second is slated for completion next month, according to two sources familiar with the matter. One source said the tanks would be used to blend biofuels.
Most merchant refiners buy RINs credits daily to avoid amassing a large liability and exposure to fluctuating prices, but Monroe Energy has slowed or halted purchases in recent years, according to market sources, as the EPA delayed compliance deadlines due to Covid-19.
Monroe delayed purchasing RINs last year because it thought RINs prices would fall or that the company would receive a waiver from paying their obligation, Reuters reported. However, those prices have stayed largely the same, according to Refinitiv data. The company has until next year to buy those credits.
The refining arm had a credit shortfall of $556 million in June 2022, according to its most recent quarterly earnings.
Delta's refining income has soared this year as global refining margins surged following the war.
In the first six months of 2022 Delta's refining arm earned $323 million, compared with a loss of $283 million in the first six months of 2021. The refinery had struggled to make money since its was purchased by the airline, which has attempted several times to sell it.
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