Shell delays launch of Russian lube plant

Royal Dutch Shell is delaying the launch of a US$100 million lubricants plant in Russia’s Tver region by a year. Shell plans to commission the plant, originally due to start production at the end of this year, at the end of 2011, a representative of Shell’s Russia office said. Shell said changes to the design and delays with contract work and supplies were behind the decision. Inna Lobanova, the plant’s director, said that the premises, pumping and boiler stations are already built, and packaging equipment has been installed. The plant will be Shell’s first standalone lube plant in Russia and will be capable of producing 200 million liters of finished lubricants per year when fully operational within two years of its launch. The Tver plant will have a range of some 90 products. (November 26, 2010)