CITGO Timeline - The 1990s

CITGO Becomes Wholly Owned by PDVSA

1990	Fox Television's animated program "The Simpsons" makes its television debut; "America's Funniest Home Videos" is the most popular television show.
1990	CITGO becomes wholly owned by PDVSA upon its acquisition of the remaining half of the company.
1990	The former Champlin Refinery in Corpus Christi, which was purchased by PDVSA from Union Pacific, is integrated into the CITGO refining network.
1990	CITGO acquires the Seaview Asphalt Company, headquartered in Blue Bell, PA with a refinery in Paulsboro, NJ.
1990	CITGO honored with the prestigious Petroleum Marketers Association of America Supplier Cup.
1991	Soviet Union collapses.
1991	CITGO reports increase in income from operations while its competition reports losses.
1991	CITGO spends $283 million for construction of new refinery units and upgrades.
1991	CITGO invests more than $40 million in environmental protection projects.
1991	Six persons are killed in explosion and fire at CITGO's Lake Charles Refinery "A" Catalytic Cracking Unit..
1991	Persian Gulf War.
1992	In the largest world summit meeting ever held, representatives of 178 nations meet in Brazil to discuss environmental problems.
1992	CITGO posts a record low OSHA Recordable Incidence Rate of less than 2.0-among the best in the industry.
1992	CITGO lubricants sales volumes increase a record 10 percent.
1992	Branded gasoline sales volumes increase eight percent.
1992	CITGO signs a Letter of Intent to purchase the Amoco Asphalt Refinery in Savannah, GA.
1993	Congress ratifies the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.
1993	CITGO sets financial performance record of $340.1 million in income from operations.
1993	Nearly $100 million invested in environmental protection projects
1993	CITGO President Ron Hall announces $1.7 billion capital investment program.
1993	Gasoline sales to distributors increase 19 percent despite an industry-wide decline in sales.
1993	CITGO enters into joint venture agreement with LYONDELL Chemical to form the Lyondell-CITGO Refinery Company in Houston; CITGO owns 41 percent.
1993	First Web browser, Mosaic, invented.
1994	The World Wide Web, a computer network that allows users to utilize graphical interfaces through Web browsers, makes the Internet much more accessible.
1994	CITGO President and CEO Ron Hall announces his retirement.
1994	Branded retail outlets increase to more than 13,100.
1994	CITGO is awarded the prestigious PMAA Supplier Cup for an unprecedented third time.
1994	CITGO Asphalt Refining (CARCO) increases its sales volumes 17 percent.
1994	Construction begins on the billion dollar plus revamp of the joint venture Lyondell-CITGO Refinery in Houston.
1995	CITGO has record earnings of $379 million.
1995	The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opens in Cleveland; Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia dies.
1995	Ralph Cunningham becomes President and CEO of CITGO succeeding the retiring Ron Hall.
1995	CITGO has a record year in safety with an OSHA Recordable Rate of 1.5.
1995	CITGO-Branded retail outlets exceed 14,000.
1995	72 Percent of the crude oil and feedstocks delivered to CITGO's refineries is from Venezuela.
1996	Microsoft Corporation transmits the Academy Awards over the World Wide Web as a "Webcast."
1996	CITGO has its best safety year ever with a 1.3 OSHA Recordable Incidence Rate.
1996	CITGO announces plans to install SAP-a $100 million-plus enterprise-wide software package.
1996	Letter of Intent is signed to reorganize the joint venture Uno-Ven and CITGO is chosen to operate the refinery in Lemont, IL.
1996	Upgrade of the Lyondell-CITGO Refinery is mechanically complete.
1996	The Corpus Christi Refinery is recognized as the "Automated Plant of the Year" by Control Magazine.
1997	The comet Hale-Bopp comes to within 122 million miles of Earth-the closest a comet has come to Earth since 2000 BC.
1997	David Tippeconnic named President and CEO of CITGO.
1997	CITGO reports record income from operations of $423 million.
1997	At year's end, CITGO had 14,885 branded retail outlets, more than any other company in the nation.
1997	CARCO reports record throughput, sales and earnings.
1997	Enterprise-wide software SAP implemented.
1997	The newly revamped citgo.com Web site is launched with the Extranet for CITGO Marketers following shortly.
1998	Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hits 70 home runs, and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs slugs 66. Both players break Roger Maris' old single-season record of 61, set in 1961.
1998	CITGO launches Total Facilities Management and Image Enhancement projects.
1999	Impeachment hearings of Bill Clinton held.
1999	CITGO sets all-time safety record with an OSHA Recordable Rate of 1.1.
1999	CITGO Executive Vice President Roberto Mandini is named President of PDVSA to be succeeded later in the year by Dr. Hector Ciavaldini.