Dickinson Refinery Gets First Crude Shipment

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — A new oil refinery near Dickinson is ramping up to begin producing diesel fuel.

KXMB-TV reports the $350 million Dakota Prairie Refinery received its first shipment of 27,000 barrels of crude last week. Once the plant is fully operational, it will process 20,000 barrels of crude each day into diesel and other products.

Plant Manager Dave Podratz says the plant will refine crude produced within 50 miles. And a lot of the finished product will be sold locally. Podratz says local demand for diesel is strong.

Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group Inc. and Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products Partners broke ground on the plant in March 2013. MDU is now exploring building a similar refinery at Minot.

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