Chevron intends to double the production capacity of its Chevron Oronite lubricant additives plant on Jurong Island, its biggest in Asia. The final investment decision for the expansion is expected shortly after Q1 next year. This expansion comes in an effort to increase supply capability in the swiftly growing Asia-Pacific market. The additives produced at the Oronite plant help to enhance the performance of lubricants used in marine, automotive and natural gas engines as well as vehicle transmissions. The plant has been upgraded since its initial USD 200 million opening in 2009. These upgrades included previous debottlenecking of production units, blending and shipping facilities and supporting infrastructure, plus new capacity additions for selected production units. The most significant project was completed in 2010. The detergent expansion facility increases storage capacity, and improves the company’s ability to produce detergent components for products used in marine and automotive engines. Under the newest planned expansion, there could be further growth in component manufacturing, blending and shipping capacity, and overall infrastructure.
