EDITOR’SDESK
Designing Lubricants for a Changing World
Dr. James Wakiru Lubezine Magazine | Editor-in-Chief
Welcome to the 53rd edition of Lubezine Magazine. We bring you updates from the lubricants industry that occurred in the second quarter of 2025. Both in Africa and beyond, numerous activities have taken place, including acquisitions, distribution partnerships, and the introduction of new products.
In the cover feature, we explore the developments and changes being witnessed in automotive lubricant design. The push for sustainability, legislative and geopolitical forces, and the pressure to cut costs while meeting consumers’ changing preferences, OEMs’ improvements on engine designs, and the electrification of vehicles are some of the reasons driving the changes. In addition, these lubricants need to deliver the level of performance modern engines require while minimizing emissions and providing fuel economy improvements. Sinead Adamski, Infineum Global Account Executive and EMEA Sales Director, explores what is shaping future lubricant design and how innovative chemistry is supporting a more sustainable transportation future.
In Africa, Gapuma and Chevron Oronite conducted a seminar for the lubricants industry in Nigeria, aiming to enhance industry knowledge and foster innovation in lubricant additives and oil technology. In Egypt, ADNOC made a significant move to blend some of its lubricants locally. Through this initiative, ADNOC is combining local manufacturing with expanded distribution capabilities; contributing to Egypt’s industrial development, creating skilled job opportunities, strengthening local supply chains, and reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
Addressing the Middle East, Asia and Africa lubricants market, its opportunities and challenges, we feature Bhupinder Singh, Global Lubricants and Base Oil Business Director for BlueChem Group, in the ‘10 Questions for Lubricants Professionals’ segment. He is a renowned professional in the lubricants industry. With over two decades of experience in the sector, stretching across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Bhupinder brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that he shares with us, from his early days in the industry to his current position. To extend our dedication to readers, Lubezine has launched monthly webinars dedicated to discussing various topics important to the industry. Since February 2025, we have been featuring diverse professionals from different companies in Africa and beyond, discussing topics such as asset maintenance through lubricant condition monitoring, local blending for global brands, automatic lubrication systems, and grease and lubricant formulations. We have also opened a YouTube Channel where we upload all the webinar recordings and other activities we are involved in.
Lubezine is moving more towards digital distribution of the magazine. In line with this, the digital version of the magazine is now hosted on a new user-friendly platform that makes reading the magazine a breeze. The new platform offers reading in article or page mode, listening to articles with an in-built voice reader, dark or light mode for comfortable reading, automatic access to all past editions, all in one place, and support for seven reading languages, among others. Explore the magazine for additional information and a range of other engaging content. .
Enjoy the read.