The Saudi oil giant Aramco's glossy sponsorship deal with Fifa has brought the group widespread acclaim at the World Cup in Houston. But beneath the glamour of the 'Aramco Arena' and stadium screens plastered with the company's logo, a very different narrative is unfolding 100 miles away in Port Arthur, Texas. This economically struggling city is home to Aramco's vast Motiva oil refinery, where residents are sounding alarm bells over the facility's environmental impact and its alleged links to severe health issues within their community.
Aramco signed its sponsorship deal with Fifa in 2024, promising a significant boost for the tournament. But in Port Arthur, where an estimated nearly 30% of the population lives below the poverty line, locals are more concerned about the refinery's towering presence and reported emissions, which include high levels of benzene – a known carcinogen – as well as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and sulphur dioxide.
The city of Port Arthur is beset by stark economic challenges. With a median household income of around £27,700 and a median home value of approximately £49,800, it was identified in 2021 as the poorest city in Texas. Residents describe a community grappling with what they believe are the consequences of living in close proximity to the refinery. 'Weird diseases' affecting friends and family members are commonplace, including young people dying from cancer or experiencing complications from ALS (motor neurone disease), according to local resident Jamal Johnson.
Cancer diagnoses consistently exceed the state average, with some estimates suggesting the cancer mortality rate for Port Arthur's predominantly Black community is 40% higher than elsewhere in Texas. Childhood asthma rates are almost double the national average, and the city ranks in the country's 90th percentile for heart disease. The Motiva refinery covers an expansive 3,600 acres and reportedly expanded its production capacity to 654,000 barrels of crude oil per day last year.
Concerns centre on the emissions from the Motiva plant, which have been linked to numerous health issues in the community. While the Environmental Protection Agency monitors emissions, violations are reportedly common. Motiva was fined approximately £9,900 by state regulators earlier this year for an unauthorised sulphur dioxide release in 2023, following a £43,000 penalty in July for a similar offence.