
In a world where corporations preach sustainability like it’s their new religion, Cummins Inc., supposed powerhouse of “reliable power solutions,” has cozied up to Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a behemoth drenched in decades of alleged environmental carnage and human rights fuck-ups. You know the type: the kind of partnership that smells like desperation wrapped in greenwashing. Cummins, with its engines rumbling across trucks, generators, and whatever else needs a diesel heartbeat, claims to be all about innovation and cleaner futures. But hitching their wagon to Chevron? That’s like inviting a fox into the henhouse and pretending it’s there for the eggs. And make no mistake, I’m pissed off about it – because behind the press releases and MOUs, this alliance reeks of indifference to the trail of devastation Chevron’s left in its wake.
What the hell are we even talking about? Chevron isn’t just some random oil slinger; they’re embedded in Cummins’ ecosystem as a supplier of lubricants and fuels, with approvals for their oils in Cummins engines and a strategic collaboration that’s been simmering since at least 2021. Yeah, you heard that right – is this just another tainted cog in the Cummins machine, one they slide into bed with, even make love to, eyes wide shut to the controversies? Alright, let’s dig into this shit.
Confirming the Greasy Grip: What Chevron Supplies to Cummins and How Long It’s Been Going On
First off, let’s nail down the facts before we unleash the fury. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. supplies lubricants specifically approved for use in Cummins engines. Their Delo line – think Delo 600 ADF 10W-30 and 15W-40 – has been green-lit by Cummins for meeting engineering standards, ensuring those big rigs and industrial beasts don’t seize up under load, and they’re tailored for mobile natural gas engines to cut down on ash buildup while keeping things lubricated.
But it’s not just oils sloshing around; the partnership extends to fuels and alternative energy. Back in 2021, Chevron and Cummins inked a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels – things like renewable gasoline blends, biodiesel, renewable diesel, compressed natural gas, and other liquid renewables to expand commercial adoption. By 2023, they ramped it up, focusing on industrial and commercial markets, with Chevron supplying the fuel expertise and Cummins handling the engine side. How long has this been brewing? The formal alliance kicked off in 2021, but Chevron’s lubricants have likely been in the mix longer, given the longstanding approvals for their Delo products in Cummins’ oil lists.
Now, ask yourself: why the fuck would Cummins, a company that touts ethical supplier relationships and sustainability, align with a giant like Chevron? Their supplier portal bangs on about selecting partners that uphold high standards, yet here they are, deepening ties with an outfit accused of poisoning rivers and dodging billions in cleanup bills. Is Chevron just another dodgy link in Cummins’ supply chain, overlooked because the hydrogen hype sounds good on earnings calls? It sure as hell looks that way – and it pisses me off, because when engines meet oil barons, it’s the planet and the people who get screwed.
Chevron’s Amazon Nightmare: Poisoning Paradise and Playing Dirty
Dive into the heart of Chevron’s filth, and you land smack in the Ecuadorian Amazon – a goddamn catastrophe that’s been festering since the 1960s. An Ecuadorian court found Texaco (now part of Chevron) responsible for extensive contamination in the Amazon – allegations that local communities link to increased rates of cancer and birth defects. Chevron strongly disputes the ruling and has fought the judgment in US courts.
Chevron challenged the Ecuador verdict, alleging fraud; the long litigation included the prosecution of lawyer Steven Donziger, who was later convicted of contempt in a separate proceeding. Chevron continues to dispute the underlying judgment.
This isn’t some abstract corporate spat – it’s raw, gritty exploitation. Communities allege Chevron knew the risks but cut corners to save cash, leaving behind a legacy of suffering that’s still unfolding in 2025. And Cummins? By partnering up, are they tacitly endorsing this shit? It makes you wonder if their supplier vetting process includes a blindfold for the ugly bits.
The outrage boils over when you see Chevron’s tactics: critics have accused Chevron of aggressive legal tactics – including allegations of witness tampering and strategic lawsuits – claims Chevron denies. Independent reporting and court records document a protracted legal campaign by the company. Fuck that – it’s corporate thuggery, plain and simple. Activists mark “Anti-Chevron Day” every year, but the company hides behind U.S. court rulings calling the Ecuador verdict bogus. Meanwhile, the Amazon bleeds, and Cummins’ hydrogen dreams with Chevron feel like a sick joke.
Blasts and Black Lungs: The Richmond Refinery Debacle
Shift gears to California, where Chevron’s Richmond refinery has been a ticking bomb of negligence. Explosions, fires, and toxic releases – this place is a poster child for what happens when safety takes a back seat to profits. In 2012, a pipe rupture sparked a fire that blanketed the sky in poison, sending 15,000 residents to hospitals gasping for air.
Investigations and regulatory findings into the Richmond refinery point to maintenance failings and delay in corrective actions – charges Chevron has faced and disputed in regulatory and civil matters. And who suffers? Low-income, mostly Black and Latino neighbourhoods – a blatant case of environmental racism that should make any decent person rage. Chevron paid fines, sure – a measly $1 million here, $5 million there – but that’s pocket change for a giant raking in billions.
Cummins, with its own emphasis on worker safety in supplier guidelines, must have overlooked this clusterfuck when deepening ties. Or did they? Partnering with a company that allegedly treats refineries like fire hazards raises serious questions about Cummins’ due diligence. It’s infuriating – these aren’t isolated incidents; they’re a pattern of disregard.
Niger Delta Hell: Spills, Shootings, and Stolen Futures
Head to Nigeria’s Niger Delta, and Chevron’s fingerprints are all over a landscape scarred by oil spills and violence. Lawsuits and human-rights reports allege that oil operations in the Niger Delta were accompanied by violent crackdowns and rights abuses tied to security forces. Chevron has denied responsibility for state actions while litigation and advocacy groups continue to press claims. Spills in the 2000s contaminated water and farms, with communities claiming Chevron’s negligence wrecked their livelihoods and health.
Unpaid fines pile up, and lawsuits drag on, while Chevron blames sabotage and denies direct blame. But come on – this is a company that profits from chaos, allegedly propping up repressive regimes. It’s gut-wrenching, the way indigenous folks get trampled for black gold.
And Cummins? Their code demands ethical suppliers, yet Chevron’s Delta mess doesn’t seem to faze them. Is this the “complementary business” they brag about? Bloody hell, it stinks.
Greenwashing and Global Dodges: From Myanmar to Tax Havens
Chevron’s not content with local disasters; they’ve got a global rap sheet. In Myanmar, their Yadana pipeline was linked to forced labour and junta atrocities until they bailed in 2022, citing ethics – too little, too late. Greenwashing? They’ve been accused of misleading ads on sustainability while being a top emitter, knowing about climate risks since the 1970s but lobbying against action.
Investigations have flagged complex tax arrangements and commercial activity in sanctioned jurisdictions – issues that critics point to as evidence of a dubious global footprint. Chevron rejects characterisations that imply illegality. It’s a masterclass in corporate sleight-of-hand.
Cummins’ collaboration on “lower carbon” fuels with this lot? It’s laughable – or enraging, depending on your mood. If Cummins truly cares about their supply chain’s integrity, why bed down with Chevron’s baggage?
The Bigger Picture: Cummins’ Blind Spot or Wilful Ignorance?
At the end of this shitshow, one question screams: is Chevron just another rotten apple in Cummins’ basket, selected without a glance at the worms? Cummins prides itself on a robust supplier strategy, but aligning with Chevron – supplier of approved lubes for years and partner since 2021 – smacks of hypocrisy.
I’m outraged because this isn’t abstract – it’s real harm, from poisoned kids in Ecuador to choking families in Richmond. Cummins talks clean-tech; partnering with a firm whose record is mired in controversy raises real questions about how it vets partners and whether rhetoric matches oversight. Until they scrub that alliance, they’re complicit in the grime.
Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project
Sources
- Cummins and Chevron advance strategic collaboration
- Chevron and Cummins Announce Strategic Collaboration on Hydrogen
- Chevron and Cummins Announce Strategic Collaboration on Hydrogen
- Chevron Delo 600 ADF Oils Approved for Cummins Natural Gas Engines
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