Sinopec’s finished lubricant arm has completed the main parts of the first phase of an expansion and upgrade of its factory in Tianjin, China – a project focused on marine lubes and products containing fluorine.
A progress report was given in a December news release by the Tianjin Economic Development Zone-Technological Development Area, which manages the Nangang Industrial Zone where the project is located. The news release said Construction is now 46% complete and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 year, at which time trial production will begin. The project is one of the Sinopec Tianjin Nangang Industrial Cluster Projects.
The project covers a total of 286,000 square meters and is being tackled in two phrases. The first covers 147,000 square meters and represents a ¥736 million (U.S. $103 million) investment. The site will include a fluorine production unit with capacity of 31 metric tons per year, a 30,000 t/y marine oil production plant and a 40,000 t/y coolant factory. The news release did not specify the type of coolants produced by the latter facility.
The first phase will also have a base oil tank storage area with 29,200 cubic meters (26,000 metric tons) of capacity.
After the project’s completion, the announcement said, it will become the production storage and transportation base of Sinopec Lubricant, integrating fluorine oil, marine lubricants and chemical additives, and further expanding the company’s production company.
Sinopec Lubricant Co. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp.
The new facilities will be operated by Sinopec Lubricant (Tianjin) Co., a joint venture between Sinopec Lubricant Co. and Tianjin Taigang Industrial Development Co.