Hurricane Milton prompts some energy companies to shut down Tampa operations

(Reuters) -Energy companies began shutting down their pipelines and fuel-delivery terminals in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall on Wednesday.

Kinder Morgan said it shut down its Central Florida Pipeline system, two small lines that carry gasoline, diesel and other fuels from Tampa to Orlando. It also closed all bulk-fuel delivery terminals in the Tampa area.

"While the Tampa terminal is shut down, our Orlando truck racks are expected to remain operational until winds exceed 35 miles per hour," Kinder Morgan added.

Refiner Citgo also shut down its Tampa terminal, the company said in an email, while Buckeye said it suspended operations at its Tampa terminal facilities.

Hurricane Milton was last located 520 miles (840 km) southwest of Tampa, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 kph).

Milton is forecast to retain its major hurricane status and expand in size as it approaches the west coast of Florida.

(Reporting by Anushree Mukherjee, Brijesh Patel and Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru and Shariq Khan in New York; Editing by Rod Nickel and Mark Porter)