Shell has announced that by June of this year it intends to close its lubricants blending plant in Point Lisas on the west coast of Trinidad, in the southeastern Caribbean.

Shell spokesperson Mary Walsh told OEM/Lube News "For a number of years, we have implemented many measures at the Shell Lubricants Oil and Blending Plant in Point Lisas to try to improve and sustain our ability to be more competitive in the lubricants market. Following a significant regional portfolio review, Shell has decided to cease operations in June this year, or earlier. We will then prepare the facility for sale over the following months."

"While we have a long history at Pt. Lisas and are proud of the work we have done there, the market has not allowed this plant to remain a profitable business. We are making these changes to ensure we have the right mix of assets to deliver maximum value to our shareholders, perform to our business strategy and make our regional supply chain more competitive" continued Walsh.

Shell said it is working to ensure that its supply chain will not be disrupted and to minimize any impacts this may have on the regional macro-distributors of Shell lubricants.

Around 50 Shell employees at Shell's Pt. Lisas plant will be affected. Shell is working closely to assist these employees. Around 30 contractors will also be impacted.

According to Shell, the Port Lisas lubricants blending plant was built in 1993 to supply automotive, industrial and marine oils to the local markets, Central America and the rest of the Caribbean. As of 2013, the plant produced 3.3 million liters of lubricants per month.

According to the Shell website, Ft Far Fan is the Shell Lubricants Macro Distributor that currently markets, sells and distributes Shell Lubricant products in Trinidad and Tobago.