E&ENews: Energywire -- OIL AND GAS: Pandemic closures, bankruptcies rattle refining towns

The future of the oil and gas industry arrived suddenly in Gallup, N.M.

Marathon Petroleum Corp. announced in August it was closing its 27,000-barrel oil refinery just outside the small town in northwestern New Mexico. More than 200 full-time workers and dozens of contractors are expected to lose their jobs this fall. That could have a lasting effect in Gallup, which has a population of about 22,000. The refinery was a big contributor to local charities, and the good-paying jobs helped support restaurants and businesses in the town's historic business district on Route 66. Marathon is already offering to relocate some of its workers.

"I know we are seeing a lot of people flat-out leaving," said Jennifer Lazarz, a spokeswoman for thecity of Gallup.

Read the complete article here. 

Source: www.eenews.net