Fletcher Oil Refinery to Close Temporarily

Fletcher Oil and Refining Co. announced Thursday that it will temporarily close its Carson refinery and lay off most of its 200 employees by the end of December. It will mark the third time since 1985 that the company has been temporarily shut down.

James Lopeman, Fletcher’s president, said the company is unable to turn a profit because of a dramatic drop in petroleum prices in Los Angeles, where much of its crude oil is sold. He said it is unclear when the company will resume operations.

Fletcher’s decision is the third significant announcement of industrial layoffs in Carson in the last six months. Monsanto Chemical and Shell Oil companies have also announced plans to close their Carson operations by the end of the year.