ExxonMobil begins production at Port Allen aviation lubricants plant

ExxonMobil  announced that its Port Allen, La. aviation lubricants plant in the U.S.A. has achieved full production for the entire line of Mobil Jet™ engine lubricants. The state-of-the-art aviation lubricants blending, packaging and distribution facility started shipping product worldwide in August after receiving regulatory approvals.

The 90,000 square foot facility is part of a USD200 million investment to expand ExxonMobil’s integrated chemical and lubricants complex in Baton Rouge, La., which is already one of the largest petrochemical hubs in the world.

“We anticipate that demand for advanced aviation fuels and lubricants will increase 55% by 2040,” said Nancy Carlson, vice president of aviation and marine at ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants. “The Port Allen plant will position ExxonMobil for growth, enabling the company to meet the emerging needs of the industry while integrating modern technologies to manufacture aviation engine oils for many years to come.”

The facility uses the latest manufacturing equipment, including in-line blending, high-speed quart line and flow-through racking, and a range of sustainable features to increase electrical energy efficiency, including natural day-lighting panels, a comprehensive recycling program and dedicated water treatment facilities.

In 2012, a state agency, the Louisiana Economic Development worked in partnership with ExxonMobil to position the state for this opportunity. The partnership with ExxonMobil helped to create 400 direct construction jobs and 45 new, permanent jobs between the Port Allen and chemical plant sites.

ExxonMobil’s century-long commitment to the aviation industry began in 1903 when the Wright brothers used ExxonMobil-heritage fuels and lubricants for their inaugural flight.

ExxonMobil’s aviation engine oils include Mobil Jet Oil II, Mobil Jet Oil 254 and Mobil Jet Oil 387, the company’s most advanced, synthetic high-performance capability turbine engine oil. The Port Allen aviation lubricants plant adheres to a number of quality control and management systems, including the International Standards Organization 9001 and U.S. Navy Military Standard.

ExxonMobil operates 33 facilities in Louisiana and employs about 5,500 employees and contractors. In the last three years, the company has invested more than USD1 billion in capital projects in the Baton Rouge area, which has led to more than 4,500 direct construction jobs.