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The World Oil Refinery (operated under World Oil Refining) is a specialized asphalt and petroleum products refinery located in South Gate, California (Los Angeles County). Formerly known as the Lunday-Thagard refinery, the facility does not produce transportation fuels like gasoline or motor diesel. Instead, it processes heavy crude oil and recycled feedstocks to produce paving asphalt, roofing flux, and specialty distillates. As of 2026, the refinery is active and operational, serving as a critical piece of southern California’s road infrastructure supply chain and waste-oil recycling network.

The World Oil Refinery is a compact, niche industrial facility situated in South Gate, a highly urbanized city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

• Historically Known As: The Lunday-Thagard Refinery, before being acquired and fully integrated under the World Oil brand.
• Capacity & Configuration: The refinery has a crude distillation capacity of 8,500 bpcd. Its configuration is simple, consisting of atmospheric and vacuum distillation units designed to handle highly viscous, heavy crude slates (both local California heavy crude and heavy imports) alongside recycled oil streams.
• Outputs:
  • Paving Asphalt: Used extensively by municipal and state departments of transportation (including Caltrans) for highway construction and resurfacing.
  • Roofing Flux: Sold to manufacturers of asphalt shingles and roofing membranes.
  • Distillate Oils: Light and heavy vacuum gas oils sold to other regional refiners as hydrotreater feedstock or used in industrial applications.
• Current Operating Status: The World Oil Refinery is fully operational. Its survival in the highly regulated Los Angeles Basin is attributed to its specialization. Because the facility does not produce consumer-grade transportation fuels, it is insulated from the immediate demand destruction caused by passenger vehicle electrification. Additionally, its integrated recycling model aligns with California’s circular economy initiatives.
• Circular Economy Integration: The refinery acts as an outlet for the heavy residues generated during the recycling of used motor oil. By blending and refining these byproducts into durable asphalt pavement, World Oil diverts petroleum waste from landfills or incineration.