A Delfin Group Worldwide official last week said Delfin Group USAs Charleston, S.C., blending plant will continue to operate, denying industry rumors that the plant may close.
Timur Sabirov, vice president of operations for Delfin Group Worldwide, said, the Delfin Group USA Charleston, S.C., plant will remain in operation under the leadership of General Manager Billy Ackerman, and with a strong administration and operational team, in a press release provided to Lube Report Aug. 8. The plant continues to show rapid growth and is a vital part of Delfin Groups worldwide oil and lubes businesses.
Sabirov told Lube Report the press release was intended to express Delfins support for the South Carolina plant and to quell rumors that it will be closed.
Delfin Group USA terminated company President John Gordon in late April. The lube blender had fired its previous president, Markos Baghdasarian, in September 2012 following his arrest in May last year on charges of exporting aviation oils in violation of a U.S. economic embargo in Iran.
Delfin USA is headquartered on a 42-acre site in North Charleston, S.C., which it purchased from Chevron Corp. in 2007 for $20 million. The facility produces a full line of passenger car motor oils, hydraulic oils, antifreeze and diesel exhaust fluids.
Delfin Group USA is a division of Moscow-based Delfin Group Russia, which is part of Delfin Group Worldwide.