Gulf Oil expands lube business in Middle East, Africa

India’s Gulf Oil Corp. Ltd. is expanding its industrial and lube business in the Middle East and Africa in the face of strong demand. The Dh40 million (US$10.8 million) expansion plan looks to quadruple production capacities at the company’s lubricant blending plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Automation at the lubricant plants will also be part of the expansion. In 2011, Gulf Oil expanded its blending and filling capacity at UAE plants from 50,000 tons per year to 200,000 tons per year. “We are continuing our expansion strategy. The Middle East’s lube oil sector is as robust and dynamic as ever and has continued to support the industrial development in the region. Gulf Oil commands 8% of the region’s lube oil market and we are keen to increase that share by more than 12% in the next two years,” said V. Ramesh Rao, general manager and CEO of Gulf Oil Middle East Limited (GOMEL). (August 3, 2011)