The opening of Shells Russian blending plant has been delayed again, to mid-2012.
Shell previously pushed back the completion date for the 180,000 metric tons per year capacity plant in Torzhok, Tver region, from the end of 2010 to December 2011, citing developmental issues and delays in construction and material supply. The construction works at the blending complex are almost done and it should be finished in the first half of 2012, Vera Surzhenko, a spokeswoman for Shell in Russia, told Lube Report this week. The company is now performing combined tests of the plants technology and production of lube specimens.
Production will begin when the company receives necessary state permissions and licenses. We are expecting this to happen during the next four to five months, Surzhenko said.
Read the Oct. 19, 2011 Lube Report article for more information on the project.