MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

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And I think one of the things that I hoped the market recognized, we still grew earnings during that year, even though it was a tough year on the refining side of the house with reduced demand, et cetera. So part of it is to try and recognize where we are financially, part of it is to try and recognize where our growth potential is. And then, like I said, if you go to the simple math, you can start to kind of look at where our financial flexibility will be. And I keep saying it’s a good problem to have. It’s a good place to be. We’ll try and reward investors in the best way that we can to get an overall total return in the manner that we think is most efficient at the time. We’ve traditionally said it’s an all of the above approach. As John mentioned, we leaned in a little harder on distribution last year for the point that you made, as well as what John just made.

We got strong coverage. We got continued line of sight for growth. So I think we’re in a really good position to continue to grow the partnership.

Keith Stanley: Thank you.

Mike Hennigan: You’re welcome.

Operator: Our next question will come from Theresa Chen with Barclays. Your line is open.

Theresa Chen: Good morning. Mike, I’d love to get some of your thoughts on the potential low carbon expansion opportunities and generally growth beyond what you have in the slate right now? As far as your ability and willingness to invest in the low carbon renewable space, are there hurdles at this point a matter of technology, financial hurdles? And given that MPC has made significant progress in its renewable investments, is there volition down the line to do something together with a C-Corp?

Mike Hennigan: Yes. Theresa, so at a high level, most of our low carbon activity in the short term is geared at the MPC side of the house. So we’ll talk a little bit more about that at the 11 o’clock call. A little less right now on the MPLX side. But as I mentioned earlier, we are a believer that technology will continue to advance. One example that everybody’s aware of is gathering carbon and sequestering it. So that’s a great opportunity on the MPLX side of the house. We’re active in several projects, but they’re not 2023 projects. They’re not going to happen to — are not going to impact earnings profile this year. So overall, as you’re very aware on the MPC side of the house, we have a couple of renewable diesel plants.

There’s going to be more growth in that area. So to get a little more color on the MPC call as far as what’s happening on low carbon, so I’ll just ask you to listen in on that. We’ll give a little more detail. And then on the MPLX side, we think things are coming. They’re just not ready for primetime at this time.

John Quaid: And then, Theresa, it’s John. I might just jump in real quick. Just as a reminder, if you think about like the Martinez renewable fuels facility project that MPC is doing, those logistics assets around that were and remain MPLX assets. And we don’t have a lot of investments to move around the different liquids. So to some degree, it maybe extends the life of the assets we have with minimal investments around those facilities.

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