The German government has voted to ban the production of all internal combustion engines by 2030. Germany's top governing body, the Bundesrat, voted to allow only zero-emission vehicles on roads in 14 years. Norway proposed banning ICE production earlier this year. It is predicted the European Union will follow suit.

Idemitsu Kosan announced last week that its merger with Showa Shell Sekiyu, originally planned for April 2017, has been delayed to an indefinite date. Reportedly, Idemitsu’s management has not been able to persuade the company’s founder and former president, 89-year-old Shosuke Idemitsu, to agree to the merger. Idemitsu said effective date of the merger is now "Undecided".

Russia’s largest oil company Moscow-based Rosneft has acquired the state-owned stake, 50.08 percent, of another major Russian oil producer Bashneft for approximately US$5.3 billion. Then, this past Saturday, Rosneft announced it had acquired a 49% stake in India's second biggest private oil firm Essar Oil for approximately US$6.5 billion

Vertex Energy last Tuesday announced the appointment of Michael Sommer as Manager of Product Sales Development, a newly created position within Vertex. Sommer, a 30-year veteran of the lubricants industry, spent 23 of those years with Safety-Kleen.

Afton Chemical last week announced the launch of the HiTEC® 12200 Series of heavy duty engine oil (HDEO) additives in Asia Pacific, EMEAI and Latin America. Products within the HiTEC® 12200 Series will be launched progressively with the initial core packaging being an API CH-4/CI-4 15W-40.

EPA is taking swift steps to carry out requirements in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act and to reduce exposure to certain persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals, including those used in lubricants.

• Sunoco LP Completes Acquisition of Convenience Store and Wholesale Fuel Distribution Business from Denny Oil
• Swiss Lubricant Manufacturer Blaser Swisslube Celebrates Its 80th Anniversary
• AMALIE Oil Company adopts Cellacore Product Desk for Automotive Product Data Management