The American Petroleum Institute announced last week it has invoked provisional licensing for API CK-4 and FA-4 due to the unavailability of any ASTM D8047 (COAT) test stand that can be used to qualify oils against the API CK-4 and FA-4 standards. ASTM D8047 Caterpillar C13 Oil Aeration Test (COAT) measures the ability of a diesel engine oil to prevent aeration.

Esso Italiana last Wednesday announced it signed an agreement for the sale of its Augusta refinery to SONATRACH, the Algerian state oil company. Esso Italiana and ExxonMobil will enter into multi-year commercial and technology agreements with SONATRACH for refinery products, including Group I base stocks produced at the Augusta refinery.

Vivo Energy launched on the London Stock Exchange with a valuation of nearly two billion pounds (US$2.7 billion), the largest London IPO so far this year and the largest Africa-focused IPO in more than a decade. The company is the downstream JV of Vitol and Helios Investment Partners, which sells Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in 15 African countries.

California is leading an 18-state coalition to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to preserve the nation’s single vehicle emission standard. The 18 states represent approximately 43 percent of the U.S. automobile market and approximately 140 million people. The lawsuit seeks to set aside and hold unlawful the U.S. EPA’s effort to weaken the existing clean car rules.

• Motiva to Increase Its Group II STAR 4 and STAR 6 by 12 CPG and Its Group II+/III STAR 4+ and STAR 6+ by 12 CPG Effective May 14, 2018 ; No Change to Its STAR 12 
• Ergon West Virginia Increases Prices of All Its Paraffinic Neutrals (HyGold P40, P70N, P100N, and P300N) Base Oils by 15 CPG and Its Heavy Paraffinics. (P600N, P150BS, and 5000BS) by 10 CPG Effective on May 14, 2018
• Paulsboro to Increase Its Group I VP Light-Viscosity Grades by 15 CPG, and Its VP Heavy Grades by 10 CPG Effective May 17, 2018
• Sinclair Lubricants to Increase Prices on Finished Lubricants by up to 10% to 12% Effective July 1, 2018
• ENEOS RACING Series Motor Oil Launches in North America
• Forte Oil Appointed Sole Distributor of Texaco Lubricants in Nigeria
• Gulf Oil International Partners with Beibei Energy to Launch 25 Gulf-branded National Service Station Network in China
• Petrobras Posts 1Q 2018 Net Income of R$ 6.96 (US$1.93) Billion, Its Best Quarterly Result of Last Five Years
• Groupe PSA Selects Punch Powertrain Technology for Future Electrified Transmission