Kenya's KenolKobil and BP are in a battle over the distribution rights of Castrol lubricants in the Kenyan market. BP announced on May 15, 2013 that it was seeking lubricant distributors in its return to the Kenya market it exited in 2007, but KenolKobil says that it has the Castrol brand supply rights it obtained from initial brand owner Burmah-Castrol.

Infineum announced last week it has appointed Joan Evans as Global Industry Liaison Manager following the recent retirement of Brian Crichton. Joan will be based in Linden and will report into Chris Locke, who recently took up the role of Executive Vice President for the company’s newly created Marketing and Technology division..

The boom in shale gas development in North America over the past three years has brought a formerly niche play into the spotlight. Once primarily the province of under-capitalized independent producers, the massive reserve has now sparked attention from the major industry players such as ExxonMobil and a host of gas-short Asian players.

Loadmaster Lubricants, a customized specialty grease manufacturer, is doubling the grease manufacturing capability of its Hugo, Minnesota plant. The plant expansion project started this month with full completion expected in the fourth quarter of this year

London-based oil inspection and testing firm Intertek has acquired the QinetiQ Fuels and Lubricants Testing business. The addition of QinetiQ’s fuels and lubricants services expands Intertek’s existing testing, consulting, research and expert services in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Vancouver, Canada-based Fildex Filters Canada Corp. last week announced a new line of products that includes a wide range of automotive lubricants and chemical products. These products include synthetic and semi-synthetic motor oil, automatic transmission fluid, manual transmission oil, brake fluids and antifreeze & coolants.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged France-based oil and gas company Total S.A. with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by paying $60 million in bribes to intermediaries of an Iranian government official who then exercised his influence to help the company obtain valuable contracts to develop significant oil and gas fields in Iran.

• Phillips 66  Lowers Posted Prices for Its API Group II SN 110 and 225 Grades by 10 CPG Effective June 5
• Keller-Heart Oil Acquires Chicago-based AL's Oil and Lubes
• BP Names Andy Holmes as Its New President of Australasia
• BP Completes Sale of Carson Refinery and Southwest U.S. Retail Assets to Tesoro
• NanoMaterials to Present and Exhibit their NanoLub Range of Anti-Friction/ Anti-Wear Greases at NLGI Meeting in Arizona
• Liverpool-based RS Clare's Annual Earnings Rise to Record £2.7 Million
• BioAmber and Brenntag Sign Distributor Partnership for the Americas