ExxonMobil Corp. has approved a project to expand production of high-quality lubricant base stocks at affiliate ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.'s 592,000-b/d integrated, two-site refining complex on mainland Jurong and Pulau Ayer Chawan, Jurong Island, offshore southwestern Singapore.
The expansion will support production of ExxonMobil’s EHC Group II base stocks, which will enable customers to blend lubricants that satisfy more-stringent specifications, help reduce emissions, and improve fuel economy and low-temperature performance, ExxonMobil said.
The EHC Group II slate additionally will allow customers to take advantage of industry base oil interchange and viscosity-grade, read-across guidelines to reduce formulation costs for many engine oil formulations, the company said.
Alongside strengthening reliable global supply of base stocks designed specifically to maximize performance of automotive engine oil grades and finished lubricants across multiple industries, the expansion also will ensure ongoing competitiveness of ExxonMobil’s Singaporean business, which includes both the refinery as well as its integrated petrochemical complex on Jurong Island, the operator said.
ExxonMobil plans to begin construction on the expansion during this year’s second quarter for a targeted startup sometime in 2019.
The company did not disclose how much it will invest to complete the project, nor did it reveal details regarding capacities or units to be involved in the expansion.
ExxonMobil said a cogeneration project to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions at the Singapore refinery also remains under way and on-schedule for startup by yearend.
The Singapore projects follow a series of investments ExxonMobil has recently made to upgrade and improve its global downstream operations (OGJ Online, Nov. 14, 2016; July 26, 2016; June 24, 2016; May 12, 2016).
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].
