Reuters: Floodway Opening a Blessing for Louisiana Refineries

“The opening of a key spillway to relieve flooding along the Mississippi River could create logistical headaches for big Gulf Coast refiners, but will likely spare the lion’s share of the area’s refining capacity from flooding danger. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Saturday opened the Morganza Spillway to channel water away from the Mississippi River and into the Atchafalaya River basin . . . . The spillway’s opening brings relief to the eight large refineries that are nestled along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and Meraux, Louisiana, which collectively process 12 percent of U.S. refined products. ‘That’s really what you’re trying to do — save all those refineries,’ said Jeffrey Goetz, managing director of Poten & Partners.”