The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Citgo Petroleum Corp.-LCMC, with proposed penalties totaling $169,000, for allegedly failing to protect employees from hazardous working conditions at its Lake Charles, La., refinery. The location includes a base oil refinery, which has capacity for 9,500 barrels per day of API Group I base oils. OSHA yesterday said it has alleged three willful and 12 serious violations following an investigation the agency be...

Lubrizols Lubricant Additives segment posted a 24 percent increase in operating income for the quarter ending Dec. 31, compared to the year-earlier period, and a 29 percent increase for the full year.Cibas plastic additives segment (including lube additives) reported a 3 percent increase in operating income for the year 2007, compared to 2006. Lubrizols Lubricant Additives segment on Friday reported operating income of $86.7 million for the quarter, up from $69.9 million in the same period in 20...

The board of directors of automotive aftermarket supplier Industrial Enterprises of America terminated chief financial officer Jorge Yepes, who had been suspendedsince last Nov. 6pending an internal integrity review by independent counsel to investigate possible violations of the companys policies and procedures. The board notified Yepes of his termination on Feb. 11. As part of that notice IEAM has reserved any and all legal recourse against Mr. Yepes, according to an Industrial Enterprises sta...

Etna Products Inc. and Germanys Carl Bechem GmbH have formed their second joint venture, Etna-Bechem Europe GmbH, that will market both companies non-ferrous tube drawing lubricants in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Etna-Bechem Europe comes almost 10 years after the companies formed their first joint venture, Etna-Bechem Lubricants Ltd., at Etnas headquarters in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The European joint venture was formed after Etna acquired the Kubitrac brand from Bechem and consolidated sale...

Total Lubricants has inked a deal making it the exclusive supplier for a franchise of Yellow Hat oil change centers and stores in the United Arab Emirates, the companies announced Monday. The franchise owner, Sharaf Group, plans to open several stores in the country this year. The Yellow Hat chain was founded in Japan in 1961 and is run by Yellow Hat Ltd. Its stores carry a wide range of car parts, including automotive lubricants. Japan is still home to most of its stores, but the chain has exp...