Chevron Oronite announced that it has completed a major expansion of its Singapore plant, marking the occasion with a celebratory event last Tuesday that included customers, suppliers, contractors, representatives from the Economic Development Board and JTC Corporation; and Mr. Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade and Industry for Singapore who was the guest of honor. Already the largest additives manufacturing facility in the Asia-Pacific region, Oronite said the company's Jurong Island facility expansion will help meet the expected increase in lubricant demand in growing markets such as China and India that are served by the plant.
"The completion of this project marks a new chapter for Oronite in the Asia-Pacific region," said Des King, president, Chevron Oronite. "The hard work of hundreds of Oronite employees and contractors, combined with the effective collaboration and outstanding support from Singapore authorities such as the Economic Development Board and the JTC Corporation, will help ensure Oronite remains the premier manufacturer of additives for fuels and lubricants in this region for years to come. Furthermore, it puts us in an even better position to continue reliably supplying customers around the world through our global supply chain.
Over the last two years, project work has touched nearly all aspects of the plant, which occupies a 23 hectare site on the Jurong Island petrochemical hub. The numerous upgrades and additions to the site include:
Increased production capability of dispersants with new reactors,
Increased overall storage capability for raw materials and intermediate products,
Efficient product sampling with a new quality assurance lab,
Upgraded production control processes with an expanded central control room, and
Greater delivery efficiency with new blending and shipping facilities that include several new loading bays, expanded ISO-tank parking, and a new jetty loading arm.
"These past two years have been exciting because we've been working hard to position ourselves to serve our customers better than ever. Most gratifying is that, despite the enormous complexities of undertaking such large scale construction in a fully operating facility, we were able to execute this project safely and in a manner that was seamless to our customers," said Jirong Xiao, vice-president, Sales and Marketing, Chevron Oronite. "This project is a testament to Oronites commitment to supply quality products safely, reliably, and on time, where its needed throughout the region and around the world."
The additives produced by the Singapore manufacturing facility are used to improve the performance of lubricants used in engines, hydraulic systems and drivelines. Finished lubricants containing Oronite® additives can be found in a variety of applications, such as passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks, marine vessels, locomotives, tractors, construction equipment and natural gas engines.
In addition to the Jurong Island facility, the company also serves customers in the Asia-Pacific region through a manufacturing plant in Chennai, India in which it has a shareholder interest, as well as a large blending and shipping plant in Omaezaki, Japan. Sales offices are maintained throughout the region, including Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Mumbai.
Chevron Oronite Company LLC is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, headquartered in San Ramon, California (USA), Chevron Oronite maintains three regional offices in Houston (Americas Region), Paris (Europe-Africa-Middle East Region), and Singapore (Asia-Pacific Region); manufacturing sites in Belle Chasse, Louisiana (USA), Gonfreville (France), Singapore, and Mauá (Brazil); and, as mentioned above, an affiliated blending and shipping plant in Omaezaki, Japan and interests in additive companies in India and Mexico.
