KENYA PIEA holds its first Africa lubricants & coolants Summit T


he Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) conducted the first


edition of a two-day summit on March 14th—15th, 2024, themed “2024 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 opportuni- ties and challenges present in this industry, among other key topics. In attendance were profes- sionals from some of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Bureau Veritas, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), among others. The summit brought


together industry experts and market leaders to discuss how to improve the lubricants industry in general. The resounding voice was that the OMCs would have to be at the center of driving the change they desire to see in the industry.


SOUTH AFRICA ROSE Foundation to celebrate its 30 years anniversary T


he Rose Foundation, a South African-based oil recycling company,


will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary in May 2024 commemorating the incorpo- ration of The ROSE Founda- tion in 1994. The membership of ROSE


Fundation is made up of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in South Africa. These


producers are required to be registered as producers of lubricants on the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Environment (DFFE) website according to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements. All the companies that are affiliated with ROSE have registered as producers. The ROSE Foundation was


MARCH 2024 | LUBEZINE MAGAZINE


established in April 1994 after the government of South Africa withdrew support for the used oil re-refining indus- try. Previously, lubricants were taxed to subsidize re-refining used oil back into lubricating oil. When this subsidy was removed, the major lubricant companies operating in South Africa took it upon themselves to help protect the environ-


ment. So they formed the ROSE Foundation to prevent the irresponsible dumping and burning of used lubri- cating oil. ROSE’s primary objective is to collect as much used lubricating oil as possible and to add as much value to this oil within the strictest environmental standards.


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lubricants are sold in used plastic water bottles. The exhibition provided a


Dr. James Wakiru, Lubezine’s Magazine Editor in Chief, presenting at the PIEA Summit. SOURCE | PIEA


Discussions and presenta-


tions focused on the major issues in the lubricants industry, which include the mismatch between lubrication and maintenance and the need to harmonize these two aspects in the lubes industry. Coolants were also discussed extensively. The major chal- lenge is the lack of a testing facility to ascertain whether they comply with existing standards. This has led to the proliferation of fake coolants (colored water) that cost the economy over 4 million dollars annually in import- ing radiators, water pumps,


thermal stats, etc. Other presentations focused on financing the industry, standards and regulations, and product testing, as well as on the challenges facing the lubricants industry. Some of the difficulties highlighted were disturbing. The menace of counterfeit products is getting worse. Mohamed Baraka, the Managing Director of Synergy Lubricants, who presented on this topic, brought to light the gravity of how bad the situation is, as there is a new trend, especially in the coastal region called “kanjanja oil,” where recycled


platform for industry players to showcase their products and services. Companies like Ola Energy, the silver sponsor, displayed their products. Other sponsors were Galana Energies, Bureau Veritas, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BASF. The training workshop covered product formulation and manufacturing, proper selec- tion and application of engine oils, greases, and coolants, and sustainable waste manage- ment. From the above presenta- tions and other discussions, there was unanimous agreement that Kenya’s lubricants industry has many opportunities to explore. The industry’s challenges will require collaborations and partnerships from all industry players, as well as the govern- ment and private sector, to formulate solutions. PIEA hopes to have another summit in the future and have more attendance from the OMCs operating in the Kenyan market.


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