BASF and SINOPEC are considering the extension of their Nanjing joint venture BASF-YPC Company Limited, a 50-50 joint venture formed in 2000, with a new plant for neopentylglycol (NPG) and the expansion of existing ethylene oxide (EO) production. Production is expected to commence in 2014.

Puralube Holding plans to invest €40 (US$51.75) million to build a third waste oil re-refinery at its Zeitz Chemical and Industrial Park in Germany. The new plant, like the two existing ones, will process 80,000 metric tons per year of used oil, producing 50,000 metric tons per year API Group II+ base oil.

Fiat SpA is reportedly in talks for as much as $10 billion in financing from a pool of banks to buy the remaining 41.5 percent stake in Chrysler Group it doesn’t already own and forge a global automaking group to challenge General Motors and Volkswagen AG.. The merged company will reportedly have both Fiat and Chrysler in its name.

The Lubricants business line of Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH has officially started up a new installation at its Technical Competence Center in Mannheim, Germany to test hydraulic additive packages. Rhein Chemie invested EUR 750,000 (US$970,000) in the Parker Denison testing installation for hydraulic fluids.

Chevron Oronite last week issued a clarifying statement on its March 26, 2013 news release indicating it had "received approval from GE Jenbacher for OLOA® 46600". Oronite has now clarified that GE Jenbacher only gives official approvals for finished oils. Thus, finished oils formulated with OLOA® 46600 in group II base oils have met the requirements for inclusion on GE Jenbacher Technical Instruction List for Class C and Class B fuels.

Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) last Friday announced that Perkins Oil Company and Badger Lubrication Technologies are now authorized distributors for the complete line of Valvoline lubricants, automotive chemicals, and coolants. Perkins Oil Company and Badger Lubrication Technologies will primarily distribute these products throughout Wisconsin.

• Lubrizol Discusses the Future of Industrial Gear Oil at STLE
• Chevron Plans to Invest $36.7 Billion in 2013, 90% to Fund Upstream Activities
• Pro One Now Supplying Industrial Lubricants to 1000+ National Oilwell Varco Locations