Chevron announced that it has begun commercial base oil production from a newly constructed manufacturing facility at its Pascagoula refinery. Base oils produced at Pascagoula will add to capacity from the company’s refinery in Richmond, California and a joint venture facility in Yeosu, Korea, approximately doubling Chevron’s production capacity.

Petroleum wholesaler Guttman Energy Inc. has exited the propane and lubricants businesses with the sale of its Guttman Oil Co. division to Chicago-based Energy Distribution Partners, a privately-held company led by propane industry veteran operator, Thomas Knauff.

Infineum has appointed Multisol as distributor of its lubricant additives in the Middle East, specifically, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen and Qatar. Having worked with Infineum since 1990, this appointment further extends Multisol’s existing cooperation with Infineum in Europe and Russia.

Tide Water Oil Co. (India) Ltd., a subsidiary of the multi divisional Andrew Yule group and a lubricant manufacturer in India, last Monday announced the formation of a 50:50 joint venture with JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Japan, to produce and market the latter’s “Eneos” brand lubricant in India. The JV company will be called JX Nippon TWO Lubricants India Pvt Ltd.

BP announced that Iain Conn, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive, Downstream, is leaving the company and will hand over the role of Chief Executive, Downstream to Tufan Erginbilgic on October 1, 2014. Erginbilgic is currently Chief Operating Officer for BP’s fuels businesses globally and previously led both BP’s fuels and lubricants businesses.

Mr. B Ashok has taken over the reins of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. as its Chairman effective July 16, 2014. Mr. Ashok has a wide experience in various roles of the Marketing Division. Prior to his appointment as Chairman IndianOil, Mr. B Ashok was Executive Director (Retail Sales) and Executive Director in the Corporate Office at New Delhi.

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