Chevron Oronite announced that it will proceed with the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase of its new manufacturing facility in Ningbo, China.

“We are pleased with the progress we are making,” said Koon Eng Goh, general manager, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Asia-Pacific Region, Chevron Oronite, “and we appreciate the continued local support from Ningbo.”

The FEED work, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2017, will be led by Fluor, a global leader in engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction (EPFC), maintenance and project management services. “We are looking forward to working closely with our partner, Fluor,” said Goh.

In March 2015, Oronite signed an investment agreement to build a wholly-owned additive manufacturing plant in Ningbo, a seaport city in northeast Zhejiang Province, the People’s Republic of China. Then, in December 2015 the company announced the creation of a wholly foreign-owned enterprise based in Ningbo, as well as its plans to increase its technical support and product development capabilities in China through a growing technology center of expertise in Shanghai.

Existing plans call for the Ningbo manufacturing facility to open as a blending and shipping operation followed by phased expansion into component manufacturing as lubricant additive demand grows. Oronite stated that the project timeline currently calls for blending and shipping activities to begin in 2020.

Chevron Oronite is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of fuel and lubricant additives, helping provide solutions to customers globally. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., U.S.A., Chevron Oronite maintains regional offices in Houston (Americas Region), Paris (Europe-Africa-Middle East Region), and Singapore (Asia-Pacific Region); manufacturing sites in Belle Chasse, La., U.S.A., Gonfreville, France, Singapore, and Mauá, Brazil; an affiliated blending and shipping plant in Omaezaki, Japan; and interests in additive companies in India and Mexico.

Chevron Oronite is comprised of numerous affiliates that are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Chevron Corporation.