Chevron Oronite confirms Chinese additives production to start in 2021

Chevron Oronite said it remains on track to begin commercial production at its Ningbo, China additives manufacturing plant in 2021, as originally scheduled, despite the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in lockdowns in China earlier this year. 

Australia’s WorleyParsons was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the China Manufacturing Plant Project in August 2018. The EPC services will be executed by WorleyParsons China.

Chevron Oronite hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on October 19, 2018 in Ningbo, a seaport city in northeast Zhejiang Province.

Chevron Oronite reiterated in a statement its continued commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, which “will not only help keep it at the forefront of the area’s evolving lubricant additive technology needs, but also enable it to keep pace with the demand for these products in the region and globally for years to come.”

“As construction enters its final stages towards mechanical completion, Oronite continues to meet Chevron’s high quality and reliability requirements for such large capital projects, as well as strictly adhere to the laws and regulation of the local Chinese government,” said Mitra Kashanchi, vice president, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Chevron Oronite. “We are excited to soon add this facility to our global supply chain and enhance our ability to meet customer needs in China, as well as provide greater flexibility and security of supply throughout the region and beyond.” 

Chevron Oronite reported that the project workforce recently achieved more than 2.7 million safe manhours without a recordable incident. The project also had to quickly adapt to rapidly evolving conditions when Covid-19 struck China earlier this year but has been successful in avoiding employee and contractor infections with a strong prevention and control program. 

“Our Ningbo project team has overcome many challenges from multiple sources, including a pandemic, typhoons and several weeks of rain,” said Keng Yang Lim, general manager, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Asia-Pacific Region, Chevron Oronite. “Our dedicated employees and contractor partners have done an outstanding job to keep advancing the project with the team’s safety at the forefront of every step forward.”

Chevron Oronite is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of fuel and lubricant additives, helping provide solutions to customers globally. Headquartered in San Ramon, California, U.S.A., Chevron Oronite maintains regional offices in Houston, Texas (Americas Region), Paris, France (Europe-Africa-Middle East Region), and Singapore (Asia-Pacific Region). It operates manufacturing sites in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, U.S.A., Gonfreville, France, Singapore, and Mauá, Brazil. An affiliated blending and shipping plant is locatedin Omaezaki, Japan. It has technology centers in the U.S.A., France, the Netherlands, Japan and China, as well as interests in additive companies operating in other locations, including in India.

Chevron Oronite is comprised of numerous affiliates that are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Chevron Corporation.