UPDATE 1-Alon says Paramount production cut by explosion
(Adds detail, background, market reax)
HOUSTON, April 23 (Reuters) - Alon (ALJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday production at its 53,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Paramount, California, was reduced following an explosion in a hydrotreater heater Wednesday night.
One worker was slightly injured in the explosion, Alon said in a statement. He was treated and released from a local hospital.
The Paramount refinery calls itself a major producer of a paving and roofing asphalt, according to a company website. Alon purchased the refinery in 2006 and paired it up with a 35,000 bpd refinery in Edgington, California, also bought in 2006.
Only the hydrotreater heater was damaged in the explosion, Alon said. The refinery was planning repairs to the damaged area.
About 30 percent of the refinery's output is asphalt while 25 percent is gas oil, according to Paramount. Another 16 percent of output is gasoline feedstock with diesel fuel equaling the same amount. Ten percent is jet fuel.
Both gasoline and jet fuel were up 0.5 cent in Thursday trade on the Los Angeles wholesale refined products market.
Paramount is located about 15 miles (24 km) south of downtown Los Angeles. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Christian Wiessner)
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