To open a refinery you must have access to crude.
The gulf produces a substantial amount of crude and natural gas. Much of the product comes in through pipelines.
Major ports are also used for import oils, like New Orleans, Houston, and Long Beach/San Pedro, to name some of the major ones. By reason, that`s where the refinery plant are, even if they are in a danger zone from natures events.
With any new refinery not having close proximity to the base product, means added cost in pipelines or other means of bringing in the product, a costly venture.
It`s not as easy as it sounds.
OZ
