Shell Oil Co. plans to close its lubricant blending and packaging plant in Roxana/Wood River, IL where Shell began operations in 1918.

The closing of the Wood River plant will also result of closing of a distribution plant in O’Fallon.

According to Shell, the Wood River Blending Plant is closing because it needs major upgrades and because it is on property Shell doesn’t own. Shell leases the plant from Conoco-Phillips, the latest in a long line of various owners of the property.

Shell says the distribution center will close at the end of the year, while the Roxana plant will close at the end of 2013.