Economy

Sewer Rejects St. Croix Refinery Reopening as Government Projects 400 Jobs and $45 Million in Revenue

ST. CROIX — At-large Senate candidate Hadiya Sewer declared her opposition to reopening the St. Croix oil refinery during Thursday night's V.I. Consortium-WTJX debate, rejecting an industry that once supported thousands of jobs and generated substantial government revenue, and whose proposed revival Governor Albert Bryan has linked to more than 400 new positions and $45 million in annual revenue for the territory. Asked directly whether she supported restarting the South Shore facility, which Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation is targeting for a phased reopening in 2027, Sewer gave a one-word answer: "No." She argued that the health and environmental risks associated with refining, combined with the financial difficulties experienced by previous operators, outweighed the potential benefits of another restart. Incumbent Senator at Large Angel Bolques Jr. took a different position, supporting the refinery's reopening provided environmental protections and safety requirements ar...