AUSTIN, TX – Jake Reint, Vice President of Public Affairs, and Andy Saenz, Public Affairs Director, at Flint Hills Resources, delivered a comprehensive update on the BATX project during the December Airport Advisory Commission staff briefing. Read and watch the full presentation below.
-Opening Remarks as Delivered-
“Hello Commissioners, my name is Andy Saenz, Public Affairs Director for Flint Hills Resources. I’m here today with several of my colleagues to provide an official update on the Bastrop-Austin Texas (BATX) project.
We have had the privilege to speak with you in the past and today we are pleased to share the completion of significant benchmarks for the project.
Flint Hills Resources is a refining and pipeline company based in Wichita, Kansas with operations built on more than six decades of experience. They have reliably supplied Austin’s fuel for over three decades and currently serves as the primary supplier of jet fuel to Austin’s airport.
Flint Hills Resources refineries produce the fuels people in Austin and the Central Texas region depend on every day. We operate two refineries in Corpus Christi, TX, with a combined crude oil processing capacity of more than 350,000 barrels per day.
We operate more than 4,000 miles of pipelines that transport crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas liquids and chemicals that are delivered through a distribution system of more than 40 terminals throughout the Midwest and Texas.
In addition to the Austin Airport, we supply jet fuel to major airport, including Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) and Minneapolis St. Paul International (MSP).
The Challenge
- Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is the largest airport in the country relying solely on trucks for jet fuel delivery. Currently, it requires more than 100 trucks daily to supply the approximately 20 million gallons of jet fuel needed at ABIA each month.
- As one of the nation’s fastest growing airports, ABIA’s increasing passenger volumes will drive higher demand for jet fuel, leading to more trucks on the road and greater risk of operational disruptions.
The Solution
- In October 2023, Flint Hills Resources announced plans to construct the Bastrop Austin Texas (BATX) Pipeline, ensuring an uninterrupted and reliable fuel supply. The pipeline will be privately funded, constructed and operated by Flint Hills Resources and owned by its affiliate BATX Pipeline, LLC. No taxpayer funds will be used for this project.
- A 10-inch diameter pipeline will transport jet-fuel from the Flint Hills Resources terminal in Bastrop to ABIA.
- The pipeline will be monitored 24/7 through Flint Hills Resource’s Pipeline Control Center in Wichita, KS and will undergo regular in-line inspections to ensure safety and reliability.
- The pipeline will eliminate emissions from over 100 daily fuel tanker trucks, reducing congestion on Highway 71 and providing a safer delivery method.
2024 has been a productive year. Since we first presented to the Commission last November, and since our June update in front of this body, we are pleased to announce that the pipeline’s final route has been determined.
To arrive at this point, we have actively sought input from community members and landowners. This included hosting two well-attended open houses in Del Valle and Bastrop in February, followed by another successful open house in November.
We have initiated permitting conversations with TxDOT, City of Austin, Travis and Bastrop Counties, Texas Historical Commission, Texas Railroad Commission and other relevant agencies.
Close collaboration with Airport staff and leadership has also been essential. Our team continues to meet regularly to optimize routing, enhance design, and align with the Airport’s development initiatives.
We’ve kept stakeholders – including City of Austin officials, elected leaders, and key community groups – well informed and maintained an open an accessible line of communication with them. We have provided regular briefings to key community groups, including PODER, SANAR, Southeast Austin Combined Neighborhoods, Del Valle Community Coalition, and Travis County Parks Foundation.
The finalized route closely follows Highway 71 corridor, as initially presented, connecting our terminal in Bastrop to the Austin Airport.
The majority of the 20-mile route lies within TXDOT right-of-way, minimizing disruption to private property. Our right of way team worked very hard to ensure this was the circumstance.
Approximately 12% of the route is on airport property, where we’ve worked hand-in-hand with Airport staff to troubleshoot and ensure alignment and optimization for the future.
Focusing on the airport, the pipeline will enter near Spirit of Texas Drive, close to the Park & Zoom facility, spanning roughly 2.5 miles on Airport property.
We’ve worked closely with the AUS Fuel Consortium and its member airlines to understand the need for the project and the opportunity to supply the airport more reliably and efficiently.
Looking ahead, land surveying is complete, the route has been finalized, and we’ve initiated ongoing permitting conversations and processes with Travis County, Bastrop County the City of Austin and other relevant bodies like the Texas Railroad Commission and Federal Aviation Administration.
Agreements are being developed between Flint Hills Resources and relevant parties for approvals, including a license agreement with AUS.
We are fully committed to meeting all DBE participation requirements to meet the City’s MBE/WBE goals. We intend to hold a vendor open house in Q1 of 2025 once permitting and related approvals have advanced.
We expect construction to initiate towards the end of next year. Timeline for completion is approximately 6 months.
Thank you for your time today. We want to be a resource for you and the community.
We have team members from community engagement, project management, right of way and environmental present today to answer any questions you may have.”
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