The Trump administration pushes to reopen closed refineries to address high oil prices caused by the Iran war.

(1) The Trump administration is seeking to reopen shuttered refineries, including the St. Croix refinery in the US Virgin Islands, in response to continued upward pressure on gasoline prices from the Iran war. White House officials confirmed the government “wants to see refineries nationwide reopen, especially the St. Croix refinery,” as it was originally built to process Venezuelan crude and is strategically located.(2) Since April 2025, some companies have expressed interest in acquisitions, which further intensified after Venezuelan leader Maduro was captured and the US took control of Venezuela’s infrastructure. The White House stated that discussions have been held regarding reopening multiple refineries from the Virgin Islands to California, emphasizing that “energy security is national security.” Reopening refineries is seen as a way to lower prices and strengthen national security.(3) Currently, the average gasoline price in the United States is about $4.10 per gallon, more than $1 higher than before the war. The St. Croix refinery has been indefinitely shut down since 2021, after the Environmental Protection Agency ordered a halt to production, determining its leaks and pollution posed an “imminent risk.” Reopening plans face environmental and operational challenges.