Trump administration seeks to reopen closed US oil refineries as war drives fuel prices up

The Trump administration is seeking to reopen closed oil refineries across the country—including a troubled facility in the Virgin Islands—in response to rising gasoline prices driven by the war in Iran.

A White House official confirmed in an email to The Hill newspaper on Thursday that the Trump administration “would like to see refineries re-opened across the country, particularly the St. Croix refinery.”

The official noted that the facility holds specific significance due to its “strategic” location and the fact that it was constructed to process Venezuelan crude oil.

The statement noted that companies have contacted the administration since April 2025 to submit purchase inquiries for the refinery, adding that interest surged further following the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent US takeover of the country’s infrastructure.

The push to reactivate closed refineries was first reported by Politico. Three senior industry executives told the outlet that the White House is conducting talks to reopen refining facilities stretching from the Virgin Islands to California.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers addressed the initiative in a statement, saying: “Energy security is national security. America’s refining capacity is critical to ensuring the United States has uninterrupted access to safe, affordable, and reliable energy.”

“The President’s Council on National Energy Dominance will continue to support the re-opening of closed refineries and the construction of new ones to drive prices down and bolster our national security,” Rogers said.

The initiative comes as gasoline prices remain elevated amid the war in Iran.

According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average gasoline price stood at approximately $4.10 per gallon as of Thursday. That figure is more than $1 higher than the level recorded when the conflict broke out earlier this year.

The St. Croix refinery halted operations indefinitely in 2021. The shutdown followed an order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring a 60-day suspension after determining that oil spills and air pollution originating from the plant posed an “imminent threat to public health.”

David Johnson, a director at Port Hamilton Refining & Transportation, welcomed the prospect of resuming operations at the facility in a statement shared with The Hill.

In his statement, Johnson said:

“Through the mobilization of substantial private capital alongside targeted federal initiatives that strengthen infrastructure and industrial capacity of national significance, the revitalization of the St. Croix refinery offers an opportunity to advance US energy security, expand domestic production, strengthen supply chain resilience, support advanced technology, create thousands of high-quality jobs, and build long-term American economic competitiveness, while accelerating the return of a strategic American industrial asset.”

Johnson added that the company “continues to engage in constructive discussions with federal and local officials, commercial parties, investors, and financing sources regarding the future of the refinery.”

Noting that the negotiations remain confidential, Johnson said: “While these discussions are confidential, we remain optimistic that the St. Croix refinery can once again make a substantial contribution to America’s energy security, industrial competitiveness, and long-term economic resilience.”

Crude oil is processed into gasoline at refining facilities. While crude oil costs generally constitute the primary driver of pump prices, refining capacity also plays a direct role in price formation.