Shell Norco

05/27/2026

FINAL UPDATE: 6/2/26 3:30PM

We have completed the restart of the last unit affected by the recent fire and have returned to normal operations. Flaring has returned to routine levels.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

********************************************************

Norco Neighbors,

Repair work on the final unit affected by the recent fire has been completed, and we are moving into start-up.

As we do, you will notice increased flaring. Moderate flaring is expected tonight and tomorrow, with heavier flaring over the weekend. We anticipate returning to normal operations by Monday.

Thank you for your continued understanding. We will keep you updated on our progress.

05/21/2026

FINAL UPDATE: 5/25/26 2:30PM

Start-up activities associated with some of the units impacted by the recent fire have been successfully completed.

Looking ahead, the final unit affected by that incident is expected to begin start-up mid-week. We will provide messaging to the community when that process begins.

*******************************************************

UPDATE: 5/22/26 9:00AM

Start-up activities associated with one of the units impacted by the recent fire has been delayed due to an issue involving a third-party provider that affected the site last night.

As a result, community members may currently observe flaring at the plant. We anticipate this issue will be resolved later this afternoon. Once resolved, the team will continue working toward the original start-up plan.

As noted in our earlier communication, there may be periods of increased flaring and potential smoke over the weekend as the unit is safely brought back online.

We will keep you updated throughout the process. 

*********************************************************

Norco Neighbors,

We want to provide an update as we continue recovery work following the recent fire.

Flaring activity will be visible as we begin startup of one of the impacted units. The flare will be more noticeable from the east side of the plant near Prospect Avenue, and we expect flaring to begin on Friday, with periods of heavier flaring and possible smoke over the weekend as the unit is safely brought back online.

Repair work on this unit is nearly complete, and these activities are a normal part of the startup process.

We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience and support during and after this event. Please be assured that the safety of our employees, neighbors, and the community remains our top priority.

05/21/2026

🍔 Shell Norco volunteers fired up the grill and served hundreds of hamburgers to the Harry M. Hurst Middle School 8th grade class as they celebrated their end-of-year picnic today! Congratulations on finishing middle school – enjoy the start of summer and best of luck as you take the next big step into high school. We’re cheering you on! 🎓☀️

05/14/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the Destrehan High School Class of 2026! We’re honored to be your Partner in Education and celebrate this incredible milestone with you. Keep chasing those dreams! ✨

05/13/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the Hahnville High School Class of 2026! Tonight we celebrate your hard work, your growth, and the bright futures ahead. Keep believing in your dreams - they’re just getting started. 💜💛

05/11/2026

What better way to bring our Shell Norco team together than good food, great company, and a little Louisiana flair? A few weeks ago, the Site Leadership Team hosted a Crawfish Boil in the Firehouse as a thank‑you to our employees for their continued commitment and hard work.

Beyond 6,000 pounds of crawfish and all the fixins’ from the Seafood Pot , the day was really about people and milestones. We took time to share our sincere appreciation with Tammy Little as she wrapped up her role as Vice President - thank you again, Tammy, for your leadership and lasting impact at Norco - and to officially welcome Alex Markos as our new Vice President.

Moments like these give us the opportunity to pause, connect, and recharge as we look ahead to the rest of the year and continue driving toward our site ambitions together. For those who couldn’t join us in person, the crawfish still made its way across the site later that day and throughout the week.

05/05/2026

Today marks the anniversary of a heartbreaking moment in Norco’s history - the Cat Cracker explosion that claimed the lives of seven members of our community.

We pause to remember and honor those who were lost, along with the families and loved ones forever impacted by this tragedy. Their absence is deeply felt, and their legacy continues to shape the values of care, accountability, and vigilance that guide us.

From this loss came an enduring promise: Never Forgotten, Never Again. It is a reminder to honor their lives and to carry forward the lessons learned, ensuring their memory remains an integral part of our history.

They were more than colleagues - they were fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, and friends. Today, we remember them with respect and gratitude, and we hold their families and loved ones close in our thoughts.

04/28/2026

FINAL UPDATE 4/28/26 2:30 PM

The fire associated with the on-site incident has been fully extinguished, and an all-clear has been confirmed for the emergency response. Air monitoring conducted by Shell and independent third party providers confirmed that no elevated levels were detected at any point during the incident, and no injuries were reported.

Throughout the response, we maintained close coordination with St. Charles Parish emergency responders, our mutual aid partners, and all appropriate regulatory agencies.

While active emergency response has concluded, standard post incident monitoring and verification activities will continue to ensure continued protection of our employees, neighbors, and the environment.

We sincerely thank our onsite personnel, St. Charles Parish emergency responders, and mutual aid partners, Norco Area Volunteer Fire Department and Valero St. Charles Refinery, for their swift, safe, and professional response to successfully resolve the incident.

Appreciation is extended to the community for its patience and understanding related to this event.

*******************************************************

UPDATE 4/28/26 9:00 AM

Our team, in coordination with St. Charles Parish emergency responders and our mutual aid partners, successfully extinguished the onsite fire. Air monitoring conducted by Shell and independent third‑party providers confirmed that no elevated levels were detected at any point during the incident. There were no injuries associated with this event.

While the fire is extinguished, monitoring and response activities will continue until the incident is fully resolved and an all‑clear is confirmed.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the emergency response teams and onsite personnel for their swift, safe, and disciplined actions. Their continued focus and professionalism remain critical as we work through final response and verification activities.

Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

*********************************************************

UPDATE 4/28/26 3:00 AM

Shell Norco, parish emergency response teams, and our mutual aid partners continue to work to extinguish the fire at the site. All personnel are safe and fully accounted for.

Air monitoring by Shell and independent third-party providers has not detected any elevated levels and will remain in place throughout the incident.

Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available. We recognize and understand that this incident caused significant late night disruptions for our community. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to extinguish the fire and mitigate impacts at the site.

********************************************************

Earlier this evening, a fire occurred at one of Shell Norco’s process units. Shell and parish emergency response teams are on site and actively working to extinguish the fire. At this time, there is no shelter-in-place advisory for the community, and no injuries have been reported. Additional air monitoring has been initiated, and all relevant local and state agencies have been notified. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.

04/28/2026

Our site has experienced an upset at one of the units, requiring us to shut it down to make necessary repairs. There will be heavy flaring and smoking tonight and into the morning. We will provide updates as they are available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

01/19/2026

✨ Big things can grow from the smallest spark.

Blessed Bayou Candles started as a simple church fundraiser in Louisiana — and with support from Shell LiveWIRE, it’s now a thriving, purpose‑driven small business.

Shell LiveWIRE gives entrepreneurs the tools, coaching, and connections they need to scale their ideas and strengthen local economies.

📣 Applications for the 2026 Shell LiveWIRE Louisiana cohort are OPEN — but not for long!

Deadline to apply: January 26, 2026

If you’re an entrepreneur ready to grow with expert guidance and a supportive community, now’s the time to take the next step.

In the spring of 2025, two longtime friends, Sherri Utley and Mary Alvarez, put together a small church fundraiser in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. On the table were candles, hand-poured, carefully