Philadelphia Energy Solutions

A 335,000 barrels per calendar day petroleum refinery in Philadelphia, US, operated by PES. Nelson Complexity 8.

Record

Rated capacity

335,000 bpd (atmospheric crude distillation, calendar day)

Nelson Complexity Index

8

Status

Planned

Operator

PES

Supplier graph

bomforge.com/companies/pes-philadelphia

Coordinates

39.9100, -75.2300

Notes

The Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery site is being repurposed for a new TerraPower medical isotope production facility ($450M investment). The refinery itself remains closed, but the property is transitioning from abandoned/closed status to planned development for a different industrial purpose.

What coverage reports

252 days since one was reported

Philadelphia Refinery Closure to Increase Fuel Imports, Pipeline Use
2025-12-12 · 1 publisher filed it

1 reported in 12 months

operations 1

2024-092026-08

stories filed per month · red = a disruption

These are counts of what publishers filed about this plant, not an operating status. A quiet month means nobody named this facility that month, which is a fact about coverage and not about the plant. Where this site states how a refinery is running it says so in the facts table above, from the curated dataset, and cites it there.

Wire

1. 15 Apr 2026 General Low
   Philadelphia Gas Works’ Proposed LNG Plant Replacement in Limbo
   Marcellus Drilling News · matched philadelphia
2. 14 Apr 2026 General Low
   PGW’s proposed liquefied natural gas plant in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond neighborhood now in limbo
   WHYY · matched philadelphia
3. 18 Mar 2026 Policy Low
   What to know about Bill Gates’ nuclear science company planned for the former South Philadelphia refinery site
   WHYY · matched philadelphia
4. 17 Mar 2026 General Low
   Exclusive | Burned-Out Philadelphia Refinery Finds New Life as Life Sciences Hub
   wsj.com + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia
5. 12 Dec 2025 Operations Low
   Philadelphia Refinery Closure to Increase Fuel Imports, Pipeline Use
   Industrial Info Resources · matched philadelphia
6. 12 Dec 2025 General Low
   Exploring Philadelphia’s petrochemical past
   Penn Today · matched philadelphia
7. 26 Dec 2024 Operations Low
   Five Years After Philadelphia Refinery’s Closure, Pollution Concerns Persist
   Inside Climate News · matched philadelphia
8. 23 Oct 2024 General Low
   Developer of Former Philadelphia Refinery Site Finalizes Pact With Community Activists
   Inside Climate News · matched philadelphia
9. 8 Oct 2024 Incident Critical
   EPA reaches $4.2 million settlement over Philadelphia refinery explosion
   6abc Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
10. 16 Sep 2024 Operations Low
    Will the Closure of an Oil Refinery Bring Justice or Gentrification to Philadelphia?
    The Nation · matched philadelphia
11. 27 Mar 2023 Operations Low
    Lessons Learned from the Philadelphia Refinery Closure
    The Equation - Union of Concerned Scientists + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia
12. 27 Oct 2022 General Low
    Wake Up Call: Refinery Disaster in Philadelphia - Safety Videos
    csb.gov + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia
13. 4 Jul 2022 General Low
    A Vast Refinery Site in Philadelphia Is Being Redeveloped and Called ‘The Bellwether District.’ But for Black Residents Nearby, Justice Awaits
    Inside Climate News · matched philadelphia
14. 27 Oct 2021 Incident Critical
    South Philadelphia refinery damaged in explosion to be turned into 1,300-acre Bellwether District
    6abc Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
15. 5 Jul 2021 Incident High
    Two Years After a Huge Refinery Fire in Philadelphia, a New Day Has Come for its Long-Suffering Neighbors
    Inside Climate News · matched philadelphia
16. 16 Feb 2021 General Low
    Insight: 150 years of spills: Philadelphia refinery cleanup highlights toxic legacy of fossil fuels
    Reuters + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia
17. 23 Jul 2020 General Low
    Plans reveal Hilco’s intent to reshape Philadelphia refinery landscape
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
18. 1 Jul 2020 General Low
    In the Shadow of Shuttered Philadelphia Refinery, Neighbors Recall Those Lost to Decades of Pollution
    DeSmog · matched philadelphia
19. 19 Mar 2020 Incident High
    Closed Philadelphia refinery continues to leak toxic fumes
    E&E News by POLITICO · matched philadelphia
20. 17 Feb 2020 Incident Critical
    After Explosion, Philadelphia Refinery To Be Permanently Shut Down
    Forbes · matched philadelphia
21. 13 Feb 2020 Expansion Low
    Sold: Chicago’s Hilco is the new owner of Philadelphia refinery and 1,300 acres
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
22. 12 Feb 2020 Policy Low
    After last-minute negotiations, judge picks a winner in Philadelphia refinery auction
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
23. 12 Feb 2020 General Low
    The fate of the troubled Philadelphia oil refinery is fracturing Democratic politics
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
24. 11 Feb 2020 Incident Critical
    Philadelphia proposes banning hydrofluoric acid, toxic chemical in refinery explosion
    WHYY · matched philadelphia
25. 28 Jan 2020 General Low
    Now Trump administration would like to see bankrupt Philadelphia refinery kept open
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
26. 22 Jan 2020 General Low
    Chicago Company Poised to Take Over Shuttered Philadelphia Refinery
    NBC10 Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
27. 21 Jan 2020 General Low
    Chicago developer Hilco’s $240 million bid wins auction for bankrupt Philadelphia refinery
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
28. 18 Jan 2020 Incident High
    Philadelphia refinery hit with $132,000 fine for violations related to June fire
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
29. 16 Jan 2020 General High
    Huge oil refinery leaks toxic chemical in South Philadelphia
    NBC News · matched philadelphia
30. 26 Nov 2019 General Low
    Bankrupt Philadelphia Refinery Was Really Dirty. A New Report Shows How Dirty.
    NBC10 Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
31. 16 Oct 2019 Incident Critical
    Chemical Safety Board Releases Factual Update and New Animation Detailing the Events of the Massive Explosion and Fire at the PES Refinery in Philadelphia, PA - General News
    csb.gov + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia
32. 16 Oct 2019 Incident Critical
    We finally know what caused the refinery blast that rocked Philadelphia
    CNBC · matched philadelphia
33. 15 Oct 2019 Incident Critical
    Decades-Old Pipe Caused Explosion at South Philadelphia Refinery, Leaking Tons of Dangerous Acid, New Report Finds
    NBC10 Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
34. 10 Sep 2019 Incident High
    After fire, Philadelphia refinery paid executives $4,591,500 in bonuses while hundreds were laid off
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
35. 20 Aug 2019 Operations High
    Idled Philadelphia refinery is laying off most workers immediately
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
36. 6 Aug 2019 Incident Critical
    PennEnvironment responds to Philadelphia refinery explosion
    Environment America · matched philadelphia
37. 30 Jul 2019 Incident Critical
    Philadelphia Oil Refinery Explosion is a Learning Moment
    Kleinman Center for Energy Policy · matched philadelphia
38. 2 Jul 2019 Incident Critical
    Analysts say Philadelphia refinery, shut down after fire, unlikely to find a willing buyer
    WHYY · matched philadelphia
39. 1 Jul 2019 Operations Low
    Philadelphia refinery workers sue over abrupt closure, layoffs
    inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
40. 28 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Philadelphia refinery will close after fire. Now who will clean up the mess?
    grist.org · matched philadelphia
41. 28 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Chemical Safety Board investigating Philadelphia refinery fire
    C&EN · matched philadelphia
42. 27 Jun 2019 Incident Critical
    Shutdown of fire-gutted massive Philadelphia refinery pushes gas prices higher, costs 1,000 jobs
    USA Today · matched philadelphia
43. 27 Jun 2019 Incident High
    One Week After Massive South Philadelphia Refinery Fire: What We Know
    NBC10 Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
44. 27 Jun 2019 Policy Low
    EPA leaders helped bail out failed Philadelphia refinery
    E&E News by POLITICO · matched philadelphia
45. 26 Jun 2019 Operations Critical
    Philadelphia refinery shutdown could raise gas prices in the northeastern US
    CNN · matched philadelphia
46. 26 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Philadelphia refinery damaged by fire will close, city says; union calls layoffs a ‘disgrace’
    WITF · matched philadelphia
47. 26 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Philadelphia refinery, the East Coast’s largest, is closing after fire. What it means for gas prices.
    Lehighvalleylive.com · matched philadelphia
48. 26 Jun 2019 Operations Low
    Philadelphia oil refinery to close: What you need to know
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
49. 25 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Philadelphia refinery fire investigators to examine potential for release of dangerous chemical
    WHYY · matched philadelphia
50. 24 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Philadelphia oil refinery fire: What we know as investigations begin
    Inquirer.com + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia
51. 24 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Philadelphia refinery that caught fire is city’s biggest single polluter
    Inquirer.com · matched philadelphia
52. 24 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Chemical Safety Board to investigate Philadelphia refinery fire
    C&EN · matched philadelphia
53. 24 Jun 2019 Incident High
    South Philadelphia Refinery Fire Out; Probe Into Cause Just Beginning
    NBC10 Philadelphia · matched philadelphia
54. 23 Jun 2019 Incident Critical
    Unit at Philadelphia refinery completely destroyed in fire: sources
    Reuters · matched philadelphia
55. 22 Jun 2019 Incident High
    Small fire still burning more than a day after Philadelphia oil refinery explosions
    PennLive.com · matched philadelphia
56. 21 Jun 2019 Incident Critical
    Fire, Blast at Philadelphia Refinery
    Industrial Equipment News + 6 other outlets · matched philadelphia
57. 21 Jun 2019 Incident Critical
    Philadelphia Refinery Explosion So Hot It's Spotted From Space
    Bloomberg.com + 2 other outlets · matched philadelphia
58. 21 Jun 2019 Incident Critical
    Philadelphia Refinery Explosion in CONUS and Mesoscale Sectors
    cimss/ssec · matched philadelphia
59. 21 Jun 2019 Incident Critical
    Video footage captures explosion at Philadelphia-area oil refinery
    CNBC · matched philadelphia
60. 21 Jun 2019 General Low
    The Philadelphia refinery that exploded had a history of financial trouble
    CNN + 1 other outlet · matched philadelphia

6 older records held in the corpus. Every item names this facility by city or plant name in its headline or summary. Operator-only mentions never attribute. Headlines and links belong to the publishers named.