Volume 10 Issue 23

SK, Repsol JV to Make Group III

SEOUL – SK Lubricants will partner with Repsol YPF to build a new 13,300 barrels-per-day API Group III base oil plant in Spain. SK Lubricants CEO Bong Kyoon Park announced the joint venture here yesterday at the ICIS Asian Base Oils & Lubricants Conference. SK is listening to the industry and expanding capacity, said Park. The new base oil plant will be built at Repsols Cartagena, Spain, refinery and is scheduled to begin production of Groups II and III base oils in 2013. A new clea...

Base Oil Capacity Diversifies

Global base oil refining capacity is teetering on the edge of the million-barrel-per-day mark, but its geographic distribution is definitely off-kilter, as shown by Lubes’n’Greases’ new 2010 Guide to Global Base Oil Refining. The Guide, a colorful 33-by-22-inch poster, was fully updated for 2010. It lists the owners, locations and capacities for more than 160 mineral base oil refineries and rerefineries, and features a map pinpointing the site of each plant. It was sent with th...

Petronas Looks Beyond Etro

SEOUL – Petronas, Malaysias national oil company, says its selling out its API Group III, Etro-branded base oils, and cannot significantly expand production. So its looking hard at bio- and petrochemical-based esters, PAOs, PIBs and even at coal- and gas-to-liquids. The Petronas refinery in Melaka can make 300,000 metric tons per year of Group III, CEO Joe Rousmaniere told Lube Report in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the ICIS Asian Base Oils Conference here June 7. Weve sol...

OSHA Fines Infineum Bayway Plant

OSHA has cited petroleum additives maker Infineum USA for 22 alleged workplace safety violations, including exposing employees to chemical hazards, at its Bayway Chemical Plant in Linden, N.J. Proposed penalties total $88,500. The federal agency began conducting an inspection last year after a complaint related to a chlorine release. In November 2009, OSHA started a Process Safety Management (PSM) inspection at Infineums Bayway Chemical Plant in Linden, N.J., as part of a follow up to an incide...

EU Opens Up Aftermarket

Independent lubricant suppliers in Europe declared a legislative victory two weeks ago with the regions adoption of rules meant to encourage more competition in the supply of automotive aftermarket materials, including engine oils. After more than a year of debate and discussion, the European Commission presented a new Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation written to keep automakers from using warranties to control oil changes and other types of maintenance and repairs. The Independent Union...

Shell Unplugs Montreal East

Shell Canada last week began closing its Montreal East refinery, which includes a 2,700 barrels per day API Group I base oil plant, after nixing last minute offers to purchase the refinery. Two potential buyers expressed interest in the 130,000 barrels per day refinery just before a June 1 deadline, Shell Canada spokesman Larry Lalonde confirmed to Lube Report. Shell will no longer pursue discussions with each interested party, LaLonde stated on Friday. The reason for that is simply we were to...

Wranglers Recalled for Brake Fluid Issue

Chrysler will recall 288,968 model year 2007 to 2010 Jeep Wrangler sport utility vehicles because an issue with brake tubes could cause a brake fluid leak. The recall is expected to begin during June. A small percentage of the affected Jeep Wrangler vehicles may have contact between the right and left front inner fender liners and the right front and left rear brake tubes, respectively, which are routed nearby, Chrysler stated in its June 1 defect information report to the National Highway Traf...

SSY Base Oil Shipping Report

Harsh trading conditions pervade the markets in Europe and the United States, whereas markets in Asia, India and the Middle East Gulf are enjoying a period of good demand. U.S. Gulf of Mexico Whilst it is fair to say that U.S. shipping markets are far from healthy, at least they have not deteriorated this week. In fact, there may have been a very slight upswing in cargo demand (not applicable to the U.S. Gulf to the Carribean or Mexico route which is still buckling from over-capacity). It can ...