Calumet completes Shreveport expansion

24 January 2008 22:55  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Calumet has completed its Shreveport refinery expansion in Louisiana and expects to be producing at full capacity by late March, a company spokesman said on Thursday.

The expansion includes all paraffinic base oils, waxes and fuels.

Calumet has added 15,000 bbl/day of crude capacity, 6,000 bbl/day of Group II base oil production as well as 1,000 bbl/day of new wax volume.

All 40 to 700 viscosity base oil volumes at the Shreveport plant will increase by an average of 50%, the spokesman said.

The bulk of the new base oil capacity is a result of dedicating the dewaxing unit to 100% base oil production, the company said in a statement. Additionally, a hydrofinisher was added to the unit for color improvement and product stabilisation.

These changes will now allow for Group I 700 viscosity base oil to become Group II 600 viscosity oil, the spokesman said.

Group I demand is growing in Latin America but not in the US, said William Downey, a vice president for global consulting firm Kline & Company.

“The growth for the US is in Group II, II+ and III base oils and is driven by new environmental requirements in North America,” Downey said.

By: Heather McGuire Doyle
+1 713 525 2653

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