2 Mar 2026
Lubrizol Corporation, a specialty chemicals company owned by Berkshire Hathaway and headquartered in Wickliffe, Ohio, has announced a joint technology validation programme with Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group Co., Ltd. (GIIHG), one of China’s largest state-owned industrial groups. The collaboration aims to develop advanced lubricant and fuel additive solutions for what is expected to be the world’s largest hydropower project currently under construction in China.
Lubrizol Corporation, a specialty chemicals company owned by Berkshire Hathaway and headquartered in Wickliffe, Ohio, has announced a joint technology validation programme with Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group Co., Ltd. (GIIHG), one of China’s largest state-owned industrial groups. The collaboration aims to develop advanced lubricant and fuel additive solutions for what is expected to be the world’s largest hydropower project currently under construction in China.
The partnership focuses on addressing some of the toughest operating conditions encountered in global infrastructure projects, including high-altitude environments, sub-zero temperatures, and challenging geological terrain. Both companies will undertake structured field testing and validation of specialised hydraulic oil and diesel fuel additive formulations. These products are intended to ensure reliable operation of heavy-duty construction equipment throughout the project’s estimated 15–20 year construction timeline.
About GIIHG and its subsidiaries
Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group Co., Ltd. is a holding company owned by the Guangzhou Municipal Government and established in 2019. The group manages assets exceeding RMB 200 billion (approximately USD 27.5 billion) and ranked 394th on the 2024 Fortune Global 500 list, reporting revenues of USD 36.6 billion.
Its subsidiaries produce a wide range of industrial equipment critical for large-scale infrastructure projects, including tunnelling and drilling machinery, high-power diesel engines, rail transit systems, and marine engineering equipment. Equipment manufactured by the group has previously been deployed in projects such as the China–Laos Railway, the China–Thailand Railway, and the Mae Nam River Water Conservancy Project.
In this collaboration, GIIHG’s engineering machinery and diesel engine subsidiaries will supply the equipment used for testing. This creates a vertically integrated development process linking equipment manufacturers with lubricant and fuel additive formulation specialists.
Additive technology at the centre of the programme
Lubrizol Corporation will work closely with GIIHG and its equipment-manufacturing subsidiaries to develop and validate additive formulations specifically designed for the mechanical requirements of the construction machinery operating at the hydropower project.
The site’s environment places unusual stress on both hydraulic fluids and diesel fuels. At high altitudes, reduced atmospheric pressure affects diesel combustion efficiency and limits the cooling performance of hydraulic systems. Extremely low temperatures can significantly increase the viscosity of hydraulic oils, restricting fluid flow and placing additional strain on pumps and seals during equipment start-up. Conventional commercial formulations are generally not engineered to withstand these combined stresses during prolonged heavy-duty operation.
The joint testing programme will therefore evaluate performance compatibility, adaptability to extreme operating conditions, and long-term reliability of the lubricant and fuel systems used by equipment deployed at the project site.
Strategic significance for Lubrizol
The initiative aligns with Lubrizol Corporation’s broader localisation strategy in China. The company currently employs around 700 people in the country, including roughly 500 working in additives-related activities, and has expanded local capabilities in research and development, testing, and supply chain operations.
According to Rebecca Liebert, President and CEO of Lubrizol, China represents a cornerstone of the company’s global innovation strategy, serving as a comprehensive hub for research, manufacturing, and supply chain development.
Henry Liu, Vice President of Lubrizol Asia Pacific, noted that the hydropower project presents one of the most challenging operating environments in the industry. He added that the collaboration will test the company’s technical expertise, validation processes, and service capabilities, while supporting China’s goals related to green transition and advanced manufacturing development.
The detailed article is published by https://www.fuelsandlubes.com/ can be accessed from https://www.fuelsandlubes.com/lubrizol-and-giihg-partner-on-the-worlds-largest-hydropower-project/
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