EMEA News
Total Expanding South African Blending Plant
Total South Africa says it will invest more than R140 million ($15.6 million) over the next two years to upgrade its blending plant and expand its fuel depot in Durban.
The company, which has had a location at the site since 1956, recently signed a new 15-year lease with the Transnet National Port Authority.
"We see this as a major vote of confidence in South Africa as well as in other countries in southern Africa," said Total South African CEO Christian des Closières.
Closières said some of the extra output of lubricants will be exported to South African Development Community (SADC) countries.
The R50 million ($5.6 million) upgrade to the blending facility includes adding an on-site laboratory, modernising filling lines, and improving health, safety, and quality control measures, while the R90 million ($10 million) depot expansion will allow 26 percent of Total South Africa fuel to be stored on the site, compared with 17 percent now.
The project, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014, will not disrupt operations of either the plant or the depot.
Total South Africa is 50.1 percent owned by France-based Total SA, while local shareholders own the rest of the company.
The blend plant uses base oil from the nearby Safor refinery to produce lubricants for use in motor vehicles, factories, and the mining industry, according to the company's website.
