Marathon Begins Heavy Oil Refinery Upgrade Project

Michigan’s only gasoline refinery, Marathon Oil in southwest Detroit, received final permission Friday to begin a $1.9-billion expansion of its plant, which will create 800 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent jobs and, possibly, give some gas price relief in 2011 to drivers in southeast Michigan.

Marathon officials moved quickly after getting the news, beginning construction within minutes of learning it had received the permit to start.

“We’re thrilled,” said company spokeswoman Chris Fox.

The company had pile drivers in the ground at the site minutes after the Department of Environmental Quality announced it had approved its air pollution permit.

“We’ve had people on standby, waiting for weeks,” Fox said.