Singapore: Total starts up world’s largest lubricants oil-blending plant to accelerate growth in Asia

SINGAPORE, 3 July 2015 – Total Oil Asia-Pacific announced the start up of its largest state-of-the-art lubricants oil-blending plant (LOBP) in the world. This new major hub located in Singapore will boost Total’s lubricants supply in the Asia-Pacific region, which already represents more than 25% of Total’s lubricants sales. The Launch Ceremony was presided by Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore who was the Guest of Honour.

With a population of more than 4 billion, Asian demand for lubricants is expected to grow by 18% and reach 20 million tons by 2025 , almost half of the world’s global demand.

To outpace market growth by constantly improving the products and services provided to its customers, Total intends to double its Asian sales, with production from the new plant accounting for a majority of the accelerated growth.

The new plant will supply for a wide range of segments in Asia-Pacific including automotive (two wheelers and cars), industrial and marine. Equipped with a fully automated blending system and an ultramodern filling machine, it will have an annual production capacity of 310,000 metric tons, equivalent to 62 million car oil changes.

An industrial challenge meeting safety and environmental highest standards

Located in the Singapore Lube Park, itself a unique concept of the Singapore Government to maximise use of reclaimed land, the new plant boasts one of the world’s first shared lubricants tank farms, jointly operated with two other companies. Features of this collaboration include some shared facilities, such as an import and export jetty, independent pipelines, infrastructure and storage facilities to service partners in buildings adjacent to the Singapore Lube Park.

Total’s commitment to the highest international safety and environmental standards has been a key component in the construction and operations of the new facility. Once the plant is fully operational, the direct jetty access will cut the number of road truck transportations by more than 11,000 truck trips a year and reduce our environmental footprint. To minimise its ground surface, the Tuas lubricants oil-blending plant is the first two-storey plant for Total. It also employs spiral conveyors offering significant productivity and operational benefits.

Singapore stands as the strategic lubricants hub for Total in Asia

At the Launch Ceremony, Philippe Boisseau, Member of the Executive Committee of Total, President of Marketing & Services, showcased Total’s strategy in Asia-Pacific and the importance of its lubricants business. “Our new Singapore lubricants hub illustrates our strategy to grow the Marketing & Services segment. It will allow us to expand our position as one of the top global players in the lubricants business. Total aims to leverage its partnerships to outpace market growth in Asia, which is a key region for future energy demand.”

Francois Dehodencq, Total Marketing & Services Asia Pacific, Senior Vice President, expressed his gratitude for the strong and efficient support Total has received from the Singapore government and underscored the significance of the event. “Singapore has long been a strategic lubricants hub for Total, supplying products to customers and markets in the region. Today, we have further solidified the foundation for our robust business growth in Asia-Pacific, focusing on locally adapted products, reliable supply and customer satisfaction. We remain committed to growing in and combining energies with hallmark innovations as a driving force for increased production capacity”, he said.

Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore congratulated Total on the opening of the blending plant saying: “The launch of the Total lubricants blending plant signifies Total’s continuing confidence in Singapore as a strategic hub for its operations in our region. It is also evidence of Singapore’s friendly business environment that allows industry leaders to come together and develop new operating models. We look forward to more innovative industry solutions being set up in Singapore.”

Total expects to shift all local lubricants production in Singapore to its Tuas lubricants oil-blending plant by end 2015.

About Total Lubricants
Total Lubricants markets products in 150 countries and employs close to 5,000 people. It runs 45 production plants for a 2014 annual sales volume of almost 2 Mt. The division operates 2 R&D centers, one in Europe and one in Asia, developing lubricants for automotive, industry and marine segments in partnership with the world’s leading automakers and industrial companies. It has a strong presence as lubricants supplier in motor sports crowned by 27 world championship titles in Formula One and is differentiated by its product quality and customer service. lubricants.total.com

About Total Marketing & Services in Asia-Pacific
Total Marketing & Services headquarter for the Asia-Pacific region is in Singapore. With over 4,000 employees across 20 countries, its teams are driven by innovation and growth, bringing customers a wide range of products and services including retail networks, lubricants, LPG, special fluids, aviation and transportation fuels. total.sg

About Total
Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, and the world’s second-ranked solar energy operator with SunPower. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. total.com