BP consolidates North American Polybutenes Business
BP announced today that, following a review of its global polybutenes business, it will consolidate North American polybutene production at its Whiting, Indiana refining and petrochemicals complex. Under the consolidation plan, to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, the company will cease polybutene production at its Texas City, Texas refining and petrochemicals complex.
The integration of BP’s global polybutene production assets and a changing global supply and demand picture has led to the decision to consolidate the manufacturing assets, according to Chris Clifton, Polybutene Global Business Manager.
“BP’s goal is to have a cost leadership position with the highest operational efficiency in the industry,” Clifton said. “This consolidation will enable BP’s global polybutenes business to compete in a very dynamic environment and to ensure that our worldwide customers’ needs are met now and in the future. We are continuing to invest in our polybutene facilities to position BP as a leading global supplier, fully able to respond to changing customer and market demands.”
The Texas City operation produces 116,000 tonnes of polybutene per year. The Whiting operation produces 109,000 tonnes per year. BP also produces polybutenes for the European market at its Lavera, France facility, which produces 80,000 tonnes per year.
Polybutenes are used in the manufacture of dispersants for crank case lubricants and detergents for fuel additives, industrial lubricants, adhesives and sealants, cable filling compounds and a diverse range of other industrial applications. BP’s global polybutene business operates in more than 50 countries, supported by its regional sales teams and its main polybutenes research and customer support centre in Naperville, Illinois.
Approximately 30 employees at Texas City will be affected by the consolidation. The company is working with union officials to reassign the workers to other operations within the Texas City complex.
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