CITGO Celebrates 100 Years of the Lemont Refinery

Facility continues to serve as a cornerstone of CITGO's refining network and a critical supplier of transportation fuels across the Upper Midwest

LEMONT, Ill., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The CITGO Lemont Refinery marks its 100th anniversary this year, celebrating a century of fueling progress, supporting communities and providing reliable energy across the region. The milestone commemorates 100 years of contributions by employees, contractors, retirees, elected officials and community partners in Lemont, Romeoville and Lockport who have helped shape the refinery's history and support its role in meeting the region's energy needs.

"Reaching 100 years is a special accomplishment for any industrial operation," said Carlos Jordá, President and Chief Executive Officer of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. "As we celebrate this milestone, we recognize the generations of employees whose dedication, skill and commitment have helped make the Lemont Refinery an enduring part of CITGO's success. For a century, the refinery has played an important role in serving customers, supporting local economies and strengthening our position as one of America's leading refiners. This anniversary honors that legacy while reinforcing our focus on the opportunities that lie ahead."

Today, situated on 1,100 acres, the refinery processes crude oil into a variety of products, including gasoline, diesel, propane and jet fuel that support consumers, businesses and industries across the region, while contributing to CITGO's broader mission of safely refining, transporting and marketing the products that help power everyday life. Over the century of operation, the refinery has grown from a crude capacity of 25,000 barrels per day (bpd) to more than 177,000 bpd.

Additionally, the CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 1,000 full-time and contract employees. The refinery contributes nearly $300 million every year to the area's economy, and its employees give thousands of volunteer hours supporting local organizations.

The centennial celebration includes a series of activities recognizing the refinery's history, workforce and longstanding connections throughout the region. Rather than a single commemorative event, the anniversary will serve as a months-long celebration of the people and milestones that have contributed to the refinery's success over the last century.

"For a century, people have come to work at this refinery each day with a shared sense of purpose and pride," said Jim Cristman, Vice President and General Manager of the CITGO Lemont Refinery. "This anniversary belongs to those whose contributions have helped sustain and strengthen the refinery across generations. Their commitment is reflected not only in the facility itself, but in the relationships and shared history that have developed around it over the past 100 years."

About CITGO

CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry and operates under the well-known CITGO brand. CITGO owns and operates three refineries located in Lake Charles, La.; Lemont, Ill.; and Corpus Christi, Texas, and wholly and/or jointly owns 43 active terminals, eight pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,300 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 829,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO ranks as the fifth largest and is one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products, and supplies a network of approximately 4,000 locally owned and independently operated branded retail outlets. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation