Though the group, along with automakers, previously aimed for that date to be May 1, testing related to base oil interchange and read-across rules for the Sequence IX test for low-speed pre-ignition has held up the schedule. SN Plus is intended to tide over automakers until the much-delayed ILSAC GF-6 specification can be implemented.

Kevin Ferrick, senior manager of APIs engine oil licensing program, noted that multiple members at the Jan.11 meeting expressed concerns over the guidelines for protecting engines against LSPI not being set so close to the targeted first-licensing date.

The API BOI/VGRA Task Force will review the data from the Sequence IX matrix that is currently being run, and we hope that guidelines will be balloted for inclusion in API 1509 Annexes E and F in February, said Ferrick. Balloting had yet to be held at the time of printing.

Q8 Blends for Gazpromneft

RussiasGazpromneft-Lubricantssigned a lubricant toll blending agreement with Kuwait Petroleums Q8 Oils to increase its production volumes and presence in Europe.

Q8 Oils operates a 220,000-tons-per-year blending plant in Antwerp, Belgium. Under the agreement, Gazpromneft-Lubricants can use Q8 Oils production facility to make Gazpromneft, G-Energy and Gazpromneft Ocean branded products.

Although Gazpromneft-Lubricants operates a 36,000 t/y blending plant in Bari, Italy,a spokeswoman stated that the company enlisted toll blending from Q8 Oils because the location is not favorable to offer products to distant markets in northern Europe.

Site Leased for Rerefinery in Western Canada

Gen III Oil Corp. signed a 20-year lease for a western Canada site where it intends to build an API Group II and Group III rerefinery. The Bowden, Alberta, facility is expected to process 2,800 barrels per day of used motor oil into a range of base stocks and related petroleum products.

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Gen III Corp. intends to commence construction of the rerefinery in the summer, with commissioning and startup planned for first quarter 2019. Gen III Corp.s President George Davidson said that the rerefinery is projected to produce about 1,400 b/d of API Group III and 700 b/d of Group II base oils. In terms of feedstock, he said Gen IIIs plan is to work with local used oil collectors in western Canada.

SABIC Buys Stake in Clariant

Chemical manufacturer Saudi Basic Industries Corp. purchased a 24.99 percent stake inClariant, making the Saudi Arabian company the largest shareholder of the Swiss specialty chemicals company. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The shares were previously owned by White Tale Holdings-formerly Clariants largest shareholder-and 40 North. SABIC and Clariant were already joint venture partners, having created chemical process technology licensor Scientific Design, which is headquartered in Little Ferry, New Jersey.

Shandong Qingyuan Invests in Specialties

Qingyuan Group, an independent Chinese refiner, is building a new unit in Shandong province to make base stocks. The facility is scheduled to start operating this year.

The hydrocracker being constructed at its specialty oil refinery in Yishui country, Shandong, will have capacity to process 800,000 metric tons per year of feedstock. The company did not disclose the output capacity but said that it will make Group III base stocks, rubber process oils and white oils.

SMO Brings Engine Oil Consulting

Donald Don Smolenski, Ph.D. started his own consultancy, Strategic Management of Oil LLC, in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan. He provides consulting in engine oil specification and test development, oil condition sensor development and validation, lubricant energy savings measurement, as well as management of hydraulic fluids, metal removal fluids, industrial used oil and indirect chemicals. He can be reached at donald.smolenski@
gmail.com.

Briefly Noted

Oil and Natural Gas Corp. purchased a 51.1 percent controlling stake of fellow state-owned Indian companyHindustan Petroleum Corp., the countrys largest supplier of base oils.

Nashville, Tennessee-based distributorParman Energy Group expanded its footprint in the upper-Midwest through the acquisition of St. Paul, Minnesota-headquarteredLube-Tech & Partners Chevron-branded lubricants distribution business.

Logistics firm Mansfield Energy Corp. acquired Ohio-based Hi-Grade Inc.s fuels and lubes distribution assets.

Ji Er Run Ke, a lube blender based in Changsha, Hunan province, China, plans to invest $28.4 million to build a 100,000 metric tons per year blending facility in neighboring city, Miluo.

Faces in the News

MotivanamedBrian Coffmanpresident and CEO, replacingDan Romasko. Coffman served as senior vice president of refining at Andeavor Corp., formerly known as Tesoro Corp.

General Motors Angela Willis recently succeededValvolines Thom Smith as chair of ASTM Internationals Passenger Car Engine Oil Class­ification Panel, the first time an OEM stakeholder representative has led the key industry group.

Pilot Chemical Co.appointed several employees to new roles at its technology center in Cincinnati.Rick Shook, former corporate technical manager, is now v.p. of research and development. Former Product Manager for Pilot Chemicals business lineBill Rohrerwas named director of technology, and Research ChemistRobert Bob Goldenis now research fellow.Patrick McCarthy, president of Pilot Polymer Technologies (formerly ATRP Solutions), will also serve as v.p. of technology and innovation.

Cathy Novak joined Palmer Holland as lubricant and metalworking fluid technical service specialist. She most recently served as technical sales manager at Lanxess Rhein Chemie business unit for six years and was also technical director at Eastern Oil, to which she sold her FormCut Engineered Fluids business.

Renkert Oil announced that Spyro Dimitratos joined the company as v.p. of marine sales and that Matt Monsour is regional sales manager for base oils and process oils in North America.

Andreas Rascher recently became head of global marketing at Zeller-Gmelin for the companys industrial lubricants, release agents and chemicals divisions.