THE MISSISSIPPI PRESS
By Veto F. Roley
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
CHEVRON PRAISED FOR ITS LEADERSHIP
Shortly after Chevron announced a $500 million expansion at the Pascagoula Refinery, local economic and political leaders went to the podium to honor the company for being a good corporate citizen.
Anthony Topazi, president and CEO of Mississippi Power, recalled how Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the electrical infrastructure on the Gulf Coast. He said he knew shortly after Katrina struck that it would take about 12,000 electrical workers to get power restored.
The problem, though, was not getting the 12,000 workers but getting fuel for the power company's trucks.
"We needed 120,000 gallons of fuel a day to operate our fleet," he said. "After two days we were rationing fuel."
Topazi said he made a call to Roland Kell, general manager of the Pascagoula Refinery.
"He showed us where the storage tanks were and helped us through the bureaucracy," Topazi said.
Topazi said Kell assured him the Pascagoula Refinery would provide the fuel necessary for Mississippi Power's trucks, which allowed the company to get electrical services up in the area.
"We wouldn't have been able to restore services without the true partnership and teamwork with Chevron," Topazi said.
After the storm, Topazi said Chevron continued to assist rebuilding the Coast, turning its attention to daycare centers in Jackson County. He noted the company had a hand in rebuilding about 40 daycare centers in the county and 60 to 70 daycare centers across the Coast.
"We did a lot in the areas of daycares and working with schools," said Kell. "We want to help develop our children who are our future."
Gov. Haley Barbour said Chevron champions Jackson County and Mississippi in economic development meetings nationally and internationally.
"They are a very strong supporter of economic development," he said. "They tell other industry that there are good workers down here, that the state is a good partner and that it is a good place to do business."
Because of Chevron's standing in the national and international business community and its good word about the state and Jackson County, Barbour said Mississippi is able to bring in more development.
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