Africa, the next frontier

Lubezine Magazine | Editor-in-Chief

W elcome to the 48th edition of Lubezine Magazine and the first edition in 2024. This year has started with significant strides, especially in the African lubricants market, particularly in Kenya.

Our cover feature focuses on Azelis Kenya launching the lubricants and metal working fluids additives in the East African market. Apart from the additives, Azelis will supply premium base oils and specialty chemicals. These products will be sourced from its principals: Chevron Base Oils, Chevron Oronite, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Evonik Oil Additives, SI Group, SYENSQO, and Ergon International Inc.

In addition to availing these products to its customers;Azelis will offer technical services, ensure the products are locally and readily available, access services from Azelis L+MWF testing labs in Italy and South Africa to the customers and guarantee a ready team in Kenya and South Africa to help out its clients in the African region.

The Petroleum Institute of East

Africa (PIEA) recently conducted the first edition of the Africa Lubricants & Coolants Summit, Exhibition and Training Workshop. This event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the science of lubricants and coolants and the opportunities and challenges present in this industry, among other key topics. Professionals from some of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were in attendance, and the resounding voice was that the OMCs would have to be at the center of driving the change they desired to see in the industry.

Bureau Veritas, which was a sponsor and a presenter at the PIEA summit and a major player in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry, will take over the operation and management of Yana Oil Limited’s lubricating oil laboratory in Nairobi, effective March 1, 2024. This will revolutionize the industry’s testing to ensure that lubricants meet industry standards. The official launching ceremony will be held on April 16, 2024.

Additionay, we feature the Southern African Institute of Tribology (SAIT): an organization that offers a platform for training professionals on lubrication, friction, and wear. Since its existence, SAIT has established technical knowledge transfer through technical meetings and mini-seminars on topics of interest in lubrication and materials, such as wear of materials, bearings, gears, and condition monitoring.

Still, in the South African market, we focus on Africa Group Lubricants (AGL), an indigenous South African lubricants company and a subsidiary of enX Group, an industrial group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. ExxonMobil has awarded AG Lubricants the right to manufacture automotive lubricants in South Africa. Moreover, AG Lubricants has been granted local blending rights on certain product ranges for the mining, construction, and agricultural sectors.

This and other articles await you in the magazine. We are excited to see what is happening in the African landscape and look forward to more growth. .

Enjoy the read.