Marathon Petroleum will temporarily halt production at its Martinez refinery on April 29 while waiting for demand to catch up with an over abundance of supply amid reduced travel and a slumping global economy. (Photo courtesy of Marathon Petroleum)

The Marathon Petroleum Co. plans to temporarily idle its refinery in unincorporated Contra Costa County, because of plummeting demand for gasoline amid travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a refinery spokeswoman said.

Work to wind down production at the Marathon Martinez Refinery began Sunday, said refinery spokeswoman Patty Deutsche, and will be complete by April 27. It isn’t known how long production will be idled, she said.

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