ExxonMobil has a long history in South Africa. Following its recent Centlube distribution agreement, Transport World Africa gives a brief overview of its local presence in this timeline:

Way back in 1881 a company called Skada and Company established their first warehouse in Cape Town to distribute what were then called Vacuum Oil products from the Vacuum Oil Company.

In 1911, South Africa became the first country to trademark what would become a very iconic symbol of the Mobil brand – the red Pegasus.

In 1955, ExxonMobil built the first lubricants blending plant in South Africa capable of producing more than 30 000 tonnes of lubricants.

In 1973, Mobil launched what was then the first widely available, synthetic oil for engine’s, which very quickly became the world’s leading lubricant.

In 1982, Mobil used to sponsor the William’s Formula One team, whose cars won the South African Grand Prix that year, with the benefit of Mobil synthetic lubes and Mobil Super.

In 2004, Mobil awarded the exclusive rights to market it’s range of Mobil lubricants in Southen Africa to Engen. That arrangement stayed in place for 10 years, which ended in December 2014.

In 2013, ExxonMobil established an upstream presence in South Africa.

Partners with Centlube in January 2015 

Today the company continues to conduct geological and geophysical studies for its offshore oil exploration business.