HOUSTON, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today received the Refining & Energy Company of the Year Award from Hart Energy, recognizing the company's achievements in refining and oxyfuels.  Kevin W. Brown, Senior Vice President of Refining for LyondellBasell accepted the award today in San Diego, CA, during the World Refining & Fuels Conference.

"We are honored to be recognized as the Refining and Energy Company of the Year by Hart Energy," Brown said.  "Our employees have worked extremely hard to improve plant reliability and safety performance and this has resulted in the dramatic improvement in both our operating and financial performance.  We are pleased to see that the industry has noticed."

LyondellBasell's Houston refinery is among North America's largest full conversion refineries capable of processing significant quantities of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil to produce gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.  LyondellBasell also is the world's leading producer of oxygenated fuels, supplying gasoline blending components MTBE and ETBE to South America, Europe and Asia to help countries achieve carbon dioxide reduction goals and fulfill bio-fuel requirements.

LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies.  The company manufactures products at 58 sites in 18 countries.  LyondellBasell products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels.  More information about LyondellBasell can be found at www.lyondellbasell.com.

SOURCE LyondellBasell Industries