A look into the lubrication needs of natural gas commercial vehicles

EDITOR’S DESK

VOL 47 • DECEMBER 2023

Welcome to the 47th edition of Lubezine Magazine and the last issue of 2023. The year has been amazing and busy for the lubricants industry. In the first quarter of the year, we looked at the state of tractor lubrication and the maintenance myths surrounding tractors and recommended best practices in the cover feature of the March edition. In the June edition, we ventured into understanding how automotive cooling fluids are stepping up to support changes in the automotive industry. The September edition cover feature delved into the Lubricants Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), an organization based in Nigeria made of lubricants blenders, to understand its operations and its critical role in developing Nigeria’s lubes industry.

In this edition, the cover feature touches on the growing natural gas commercial vehicle market and how that is spurring demand for advanced lubricant formulations. Adopting natural gas commercial vehicles is geared towards a more sustainable future in the automotive industry. Oils designed for internal combustion engines that run entirely on natural gas must handle conditions that are different from those formulated for conventional liquid fuels. The article looks at the challenges lubricants for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines have to deal with, the critical requirements of natural gas engine oils, oil specifications and testing and the growth potential for CNG engines. The African continent is also gearing towards adopting CNG to provide cheaper and cleaner energy. In Tanzania, compressed natural gas stations have been in construction for the last few years to offer CNG.

Understanding the African lubricants market is important for a company intending to invest, and we get a better understanding of this market from the perspective of Steve Munguti, the Regional Head of Specialties: Lubes & LPG at Lake Oil Group, whom we feature in our ten questions for lubricants professionals’ segment. Mr. Munguti has a wealth of knowledge and over 20 years of experience in the industry, and he shares some vital information about the African landscape.

In the Southern part of Africa, the South African Institute of Tribology (SAIT) held its annual Awards Dinner to acknowledge and celebrate excellence and hard work in the field of tribology. SAIT offers four annual awards divided into four categories: The Louw Alberts Award, Best Technical Achievement Award, Best Technical Presentation Award and SAIT Student Award. SAIT is a professional body that offers 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.

To further advance sustainability, environmentally sensitive lubricants are gaining attention. ENOC launched environmentally acceptable lubricants for the marine industry, GS Caltex debuted a biodegradable saw oil, and Castrol expanded its carbon-neutral products range. Moreover, TotalEnergies increased the recycled plastic in its lube packages to 50% and Infineum launched an additive package for hybrid vehicles.

This and so much more await you to read.

Happy Holidays.