Viva Energy has unveiled an industry-leading lubricants facility in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, designed to streamline the transportation of lubricant products, improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and underpin timely and reliable deliveries.
Viva Energy is the licensed Shell Lubricants macro distributor in Australia, and the $25 million plant at Karratha demonstrates its commitment to providing customers with a trusted supply of quality products to support its operations, which include some of Australia’s most remote mines and offshore facilities.
The initiative results in more than 2.4 million litres of on-site lubricant storage capacity, while an additional purpose-built grease facility has been tailored to support the needs of local industry.
The opening of the facility represents Viva Energy’s significant commitment to the Pilbara economy. Traditionally, the transportation of lubricants to the Pilbara has involved a complex, 6500-kilometre journey, beginning with a voyage by ship from Singapore to Fremantle and concluding with a 1500-kilometre trek by truck to Karratha.
With the new facility, products will be delivered directly from Singapore to the Port of Dampier, just 19 minutes by road from Karratha. It cuts the sea journey by more than 1000 kilometres and bypasses the road travel from Fremantle. On road freight alone, that is a reduction of more than 450,000 kilometres travelled every year.
Viva Energy general manager of resources and lubricants Kerry Watson said by shortening the supply chain and reducing the kilometres travelled, the company was implementing a much more efficient supply chain for customers.
“As an added bonus, Viva Energy is also reducing associated transport emissions by cutting the distance travelled by around 30 per cent,” he said.
“This initiative contributes to lowering the environmental impact of our logistics operations and supports the company’s commitment to operational efficiency. It also reflects sustainability priorities shared by Viva Energy and many of our regional customers.”
Shell SEA macro distributor lubricants general manager Steve Quila said the new terminal reflected Viva Energy’s commitment to strengthening the Shell Lubricants brand in this critical mining region.
“Having a dedicated lubricants facility enables direct shipping from Shell’s regional lubricant blend plants to the Pilbara mining region, streamlining logistics by offering reduced transit times, enhanced supply certainty and the ability to rapidly respond to customer demand,” he said.
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