GS Caltex explores China’s lubricants market

South Korea’s second largest refiner, GS Caltex Co., said it is planning to tap into the opportunities in China’s lubricants market, which is one …

Marketplace

Petronas launches Malaysia’s first mobile fuel dispenser

Malaysia’s Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PetDag), the local marketing arm of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) recently launched the country’s first mobile fuel dispenser called the …

India’s consumption growth lower than projected rate

India’s Petroleum Products Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), a branch of the petroleum ministry, said that the consumption of petroleum products in the country …

Original Equipment Manufacturers

Japanese carmakers add idling stop technology to increase fuel efficiency

More car makers in Japan are adding an idling stop mechanism on their new models as a way to improve fuel economy. The …

Tata launches more powerful Nano 624 cc

Tata Motors introduced a more fuel efficient and more powerful model of the Nano mini car. However, despite the vast improvements of the …

Policy, Tax & Regulations

Philippines to review deregulation law

Philippine President Benigno Aquino lll had asked the Energy Department, Justice Department and the Transportation and Communications Department to review the oil deregulation law …

India in discussions over fuel prices

India’s ministerial panel on fuels, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, will be discussing the effects of the rupee’s fall against the dollar and …

New Projects & Upgrades

Slavneft-Yanos will produce Euro 4 fuels in 2012

Russia’s Slavneft-Yaroslavnefteorgsintez (Slavneft-Yanos), a unit of the Russian oil company Slavneft, said that starting January 2012, it will stop producing fuel below Euro 4 …

Bridgestone to produce passenger car tires in North Vietnam

Japanese tire maker Bridgestone Corporation has announced a plan to build a new tire plant in Vietnam’s northern port city of Haiphong to produce …

 

Renewable Fuels

Vietnam considers incentives for gasohol E5

Vietnam plans to offer more incentives to stimulate local consumption of clean fuel. Recipients of the new incentives would be biofuel producers, distributors and …

Total and Amyris partner to produce renewable fuels

Total and Amyris Inc. announced the signing of agreements to expand their current R&D partnership and form a joint venture to develop, produce and …

Alternative Fuels

Japanese automakers to introduce plug-in hybrids starting 2012

Japanese automakers Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. are gearing up to introduce their new plug-in hybrids starting 2012. A plug-in hybrid, like …

Thai firm to invest in wind-power projects in Australia, New Zealand

Ratchaburi Holding Electricity Generating Plc (RATCH) plans to invest in at least three more wind-power projects in Australia with combined capacity of 200 megawatts …

Financials

Lanka IOC posts net profit

Lanka IOC, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Indian Oil Corp. declared a net profit of LKR 277.8 million (US$2.4 million) for the quarter that ended …

Gulf Oil posts Q2 net profit gains

Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd., a Hinduja Group Company, posted revenues of Rs2.56 billion (US$48.4 billion) in the second quarter and a 6% profit after …

Newsmakers

Altona Energy PLC appoints new deputy chairman

The AIM-listed Australian based clean energy company Altona Energy PLC, announced the appointment of Zheng (Michael) Qiang as deputy chairman to the board. …

Formosa Petrochemical appoints new president

Formosa Petrochemical Corp., a flagship company of Formosa Plastics Group, said its board has approved the appointment as company president of Tsao Mihn, former …

 

Fuel Economy & Emissions

South Korea to introduce new fuel efficiency system starting next year

A more conservative system for measuring the fuel efficiency of cars will be introduced by the government starting next year, according to South Korea’s …

Toyota to showcase fuel-efficient compact hybrid, green vehicles

Toyota said it will showcase a new compact hybrid vehicle in the Tokyo Motor Show in December. The compact hybrid will have the …

Lubes, Base Oils & Additives

Valvoline introduces three new products at Excon 2011

Valvoline has lined up three new products that it will introduce in the Excon 2011 international trade fair in Bangalore, India, in November. The …

ExxonMobil introduces two energy efficient lubricants

ExxonMobil Lubricants and Petroleum Specialties Company, a division of Exxon Mobil Corporation, introduced two new Mobil SHC high-performance synthetic oils, the Mobil SHC 600 …

Research & Development

Novozymes opens new R&D lab in Brazil

Novozymes recently opened its new R&D laboratories and Customer Solutions facilities at its site in Araucária, Paraná, Brazil. The R&D center will initially focus …

Total and Amyris partner to produce renewable fuels

Total and Amyris Inc. announced the signing of agreements to expand their current R&D partnership and form a joint venture to develop, produce and …

Mergers & Acquisitions

PTT Global to acquire Perstorp Holding France SAS

Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) announced that its board had approved the €114.8 million (US$150 million) acquisition of Perstorp Holding France SAS, representing a …

Sinopec in discussions over stake sale in Galp Energia

Chinese state oil refiner China Petrochemical Corp., more commonly known as Sinopec Group, is negotiating with Galp Energia for the acquisition of up to …