Representatives from ExxonMobil and various government agencies – including Dutch minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Eric Wiebes, Port of Rotterdam CEO Allard Castelein, and, from the US Embassy, Shawn Crowley – gathered at the Port of Rotterdam to mark the start-up of ExxonMobil’s new advanced hydrocracker facility at the port.
Having required investment in excess of a billion euros, the advanced hydrocracker installation will employ a world-first combination of catalyst technology and proprietary processes to produce ultra-low-sulphur diesel and advanced base stocks for derivative products, such as the high-quality lubricants from Mobil stockists.
The CEO of ExxonMobil Benelux, Jan Michielsen, affirmed the significance of the new installation at the strategically important location of Rotterdam, saying:
“This investment of one billion euros demonstrates ExxonMobil’s commitment to the Northwest European market. With this new plant, we meet the demand for high-quality base stocks for lubricants and ultra-low sulphur diesel, while improving overall site energy efficiency by another five percent. We are also creating new high-quality jobs.”
Castelein also praised the new installation, pointing out how the Rotterdam port will continue to boast the most advanced and efficient petrochemical complex for years to come.
ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company President, Bryan Milton, also pointed out that with the Rotterdam project now complete, ExxonMobil is now the sole producer in Europe of Group II base stock, i.e., over 90% saturates, less than 0.03% sulphur, and with a 80–120 viscosity index, on a world scale.
