Major oil company British Petroleum (BP) has started the construction of a new lubricant blending plant in China’s northern port city of Tianjin, according to China’s official news agency, Xinhua.

With an investment reported to be in the range of CNY 1.5 billion (USD216 million) the project is BP’s largest investment on a single lubricant blending plant in the world. Total annual capacity is said to be 200,000 tonnes.

The plant will specialize in producing lubricating grease and different types of lubricants, including automotive, industrial, marine and aviation.

The lubricant blending plant will become operational by the end of 2021.

Covering 150,000 square meters, the lube blending plant will be in the Nangang industrial area in Tianjin’s Binhai New Area.

“We have full confidence in the development of Binhai New Area and will further enhance cooperation with the local authorities in order to achieve a win-win outcome,” said Yang Xiaoping, president of BP China.

BP owns the famous lubricants brand Castrol, a global leading brand.