Odessa resident Kirk Edwards recently penned an op-ed regarding the current oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia that has led to crashing prices in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Edwards linked the Saudis to his home state of Texas in his candid column.
Edwards noted that the nation is importing 1 million barrels of crude oil per day from Saudi Arabia and that Texas’ largest refinery, at Port Arthur, is owned by the Saudi kingdom.
“What I’m trying to do is educate Texas consumers, especially our energy friends on the Gulf Coast, that the largest supply of gasoline is from Saudi Arabia, the same people who are trying to put us out of business,” Edwards, president of Latigo Petroleum, told the Reporter-Telegram in a phone interview.
“As consumers, why do we do that?” he said.
The op-ed has caused a stir in regards to the United States' importing of oil as well as the fact that the Saudi-owned Motiva refinery at Port Arthur – the largest in Texas and the fifth largest in the world – doesn’t use any U.S. crude in its operations.
“We need to invest in our refineries,” Edwards said.
Additionally, he said that the Saudis contribute zero tax revenue to Texas schools, hospitals and the state’s rainy day fund, which are all supported by the state’s residents and corporations.
Edward wants the Trump administration to levy a tariff of $40 for every barrel of Saudi oil coming into the U.S. Those funds should then be shared with oil-producing states like Texas.
As for the recent coronavirus outbreak, Edwards said that he's been in touch with both local and state members of Congress and hopes relief can come quickly for community residents and the businesses that are in peril.
“It (the relief package) cannot come at a better time,” he said.