Puma Energy International, a global integrated midstream and downstream energy company, announced last week the beginning of construction of the new Latin America regional headquarters near San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The company markets its own brand of lubricants which includes its Premium Puma Maximum Power Range for on road and off road automotive use, along with heavy-duty industrial oils, hydraulic oils, coolants and greases. Puma Energy is also one of Castrol's largest global distributors, having the right to market such in numerous countries around the globe.

With this new construction, Bayamón (Puerto Rico) joins Tallin (Estonia), Johannesburg (South Africa), Brisbane (Australia) and Singapore—Puma’s regional hubs for the management of all commercial activity in their respective regions. Puerto Rico will become the center of operations for the Caribbean and the entire Americas, presently serving a number of countries including: Panamá, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The total investment in the new regional office, which is expected to be complete by April 2015, is approximately $17 million (USD) and investments made by Puma Energy in the country will create more than 230 indirect jobs. This number is in addition to the 700 contractors that are currently working on the construction and environmental rehabilitation of the terminal area in Bayamón, acquired by Puma Energy in 2011. Both job figures are part of the more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs created and sustained by Puma Energy in Puerto Rico since 2011.

“Over the past few years we have worked tirelessly, kept a low public profile and have remained focused on the job we came here to do, making significant amounts of investments in Puerto Rico. This is only the beginning, as various other energy projects are in store for the future,” said Serafin Ruiz, Chief Operating Officer of Puma Energy International.

Víctor Domínguez, General Manager of Puma Energy Caribe LLC, noted that the announcement, aside from transforming Puerto Rico into a hub for fuel imports and the coordination of distribution for the Americas and the Caribbean, coincides with the consent by the Public Service Commission of Puerto Rico to import and distribute propane gas, thus increasing the import and distribution of other fuel types in Puerto Rico. To date, the Company’s total investment in Puerto Rico is approximately $480 million (USD).

In Feb 2013, Puma Energy and Castrol announced the formation of a strategic alliance to market Castrol automotive Castrol automotive lubricants in all six of Puma's Central American markets as well as Paraguay.

The agreement in the Americas came on the heels of a successful long-term partnership formed in 2010 through which Puma Energy has exclusive distribution rights to Castrol’s lubricant brands in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia for the automotive, industrial/B2B (Mining, Transport Fleets, Energy and Agriculture) and marine segments.

The strategic alliance for Central and South America’s automotive segments includes the supply of Castrol’s latest generation of synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral-based lubricants for conventional gasoline passenger vehicles, as well as oils and lubricants for fleets and commercial vehicles. Puma Energy retail service stations and Castrol’s distributors across Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Paraguay will jointly market and drive sales of Castrol GTX®, Castrol Magnatec® and Castrol EDGE® lubricant brands.

In 2010 Puma Energy formed its regional subsidiary, Puma Energy Caribe, which bought Caribbean Petroleum Corporation's fire-damaged fuel depot in Puerto Rico and 147 Gulf-branded service stations. In March 2012 the firm acquired ExxonMobil's downstream businesses in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Belize, establishing it as one of the region's largest petroleum companies. In Nicaragua the firm has 40% of the retail market as well as an oil refinery in Managua, acquired from Exxon, with a capacity of 19,500 barrels per day (3,100 m3/d).

In July 2012 the firm purchased Chevron's fuel distribution and storage businesses in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. The assets include 192 Texaco service stations, an aviation fuel supply and storage tanks with a combined capacity of 430,000 barrels (68,000 m3). A further acquisition from ExxonMobil was made in November 2012 by the purchase of Esso Standard Oil's supply and marketing business in the Dominican Republic.

Puma Energy employs more than 6,000 people in over 35 countries across 5 continents.