ALIA AGM 2025: Strengthening global ties in the lubricants industry
The Asian Lubricants Industry Association (ALIA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on March 11, 2025, at The Laguna Resort & Spa in Bali, Indonesia. The event, presided over by ALIA Chair Charlotte Kehoe, technology director, Asia Pacific at BP Castrol Singapore Pte Ltd, highlighted ALIA’s progress in strengthening the organisation’s voice on the global stage through closer ties with international organisations.
Kehoe emphasised ALIA’s active participation in key global networks. Paul Nai, ALIA Technology Subcommittee chair, represents ALIA at the ASTM Global Lubricants Test Standards Team, while Kehoe is active in the Lubricants Sustainability International Liaison Group. Nai, who also joined the ALIA Council this year, is senior director, APAC, Large Engine & Small Engine, Lubrizol Southeast Asia Pte Ltd.
Kehoe stressed the importance of continuing to fortify ALIA’s network across regional and global industry through collaboration and further expanding its reach along the value chain to include end users and consumers.
The association has taken steps to ensure its structure is set for long-term success, including the addition of an Executive Committee to the Council structure to support progress. The Executive Committee will drive initiatives at an accelerated pace. Recent changes to the subcommittee structure were also outlined, including two new subcommittees: Health, Safety and Compliance subcommittee and the Quality Management Subcommittee. The Membership, Professional Development and Events Subcommittees have also been combined to enable greater synergies, with Andy Notomuljo and Watcharapong (Alex) Pathompanich as co-chairs.
Notomuljo is APAC director of sales at Master Chemical. Pathompanich is business development director, P.S.P. Specialties Public Company Limited.
Subcommittee chairs outlined ALIA’s work plan for the next two years, with the intent to continue growing and diversifying membership. This includes a commitment to greater investment in projects.
The importance of increasing face-to-face events was noted as a key factor in building momentum and fostering deeper industry engagement. The success of ALIA’s 2024 Lubricant Exhibition, co-organized by F&L Asia Ltd., was highlighted as a major step in extending its influence downstream and bringing customers into the network. Plans are already in place to hold the next lubricant exhibition at Suntec Singapore from September 9-11, 2025, with a one-day training course entitled Base Oil 101 on September 8, and the ALIA Anniversary Dinner on September 9. ALIA Subcommittees and Council will hold their second face-to-face meeting on September 12. Meanwhile, the second quarter meetings will be held virtually.
Kehoe also noted key workstreams, including ALIA’s efforts to address language barriers that have hindered growth in certain parts of Asia.
ALIA will step up its development of white papers and industry positions to provide a clear and aligned message for the industry on critical issues. At the RRBO Task Force meeting on March 11, Kehoe discussed the outline of the white paper being prepared by the task force on re-refined base oils. which will highlight the critical role of re-refined base oil (RRBO) and used oil collection in driving sustainability within the lubricants industry. Advocacy efforts will also focus on refining ALIA’s Vietnam Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) position, ensuring alignment on key themes before engaging with government bodies. The Vietnam EPR Task Force will meet today, March 12.
