Residents of Port Arthur, Texas, say the Motiva oil refinery, owned by Saudi Aramco, exposes them to poisonous gases and long-term health problems, contrasting with Aramco's sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup.
Community health crisis
Port Arthur, a city of 55,000 located 100 miles east of Houston, is among the poorest in Texas, with a median household income of $27,700 and nearly 30% of the population living below the poverty line. The cancer mortality rate for the predominantly black community is 40% higher than the state average, and childhood asthma rates are almost double the national average.
Resident Jamal Johnson described losing family members to cancer and ALS: “I’ve got a load of friends and family who’ve had weird diseases. They’ve let off all these poisonous gases; it’s like that all the time. It’s fucked up.”
Environmental violations
The Motiva refinery, the largest in the US by some measures, has been fined multiple times for unauthorized emissions. In 2023, Motiva was fined $9,900 for a sulfur dioxide release, and in 2022, received a $214,000 penalty for a major leak of contaminated water. Emissions of benzene, a carcinogen, are among the highest in the US.
Environmentalist Hilton Kelley, a Goldman Prize winner, said: “There was a time I could count the number of classmates whose funerals I’ve gone to.” He listed friends who died of cancer before age 40, including Jennifer Benson, who lived two blocks from Motiva.
Lack of local benefit
Despite Aramco's prominent World Cup sponsorship, residents see no benefits. John Beard Jr., of the Port Arthur Community Action Network, said: “We have all the infrastructure to create wealth but we are the poorest of the poor.” He accused the company of environmental racism and noted that local hiring is minimal, with workers often bussed in from outside.
Residents claim Motiva has attempted to buy out properties at low prices. Shirley, a resident near the refinery, said: “People would be happy to leave if they offered enough money. But this is a lovely big house, I’m not going for $100,000.”
Calls for accountability
Beard questioned why Aramco and FIFA do not invest in local soccer infrastructure: “Where are Aramco or FIFA on our soccer fields? If you’re so big on soccer then why aren’t you doing something where you already have a business interest?” He described the sponsorship as “blood money.”
Kelley noted some improvements, saying pollution is about 75% better than under previous ownership, but added: “They can still be better.” Beard remained skeptical: “It’s like drinking half a gallon of poison rather than a gallon.”
