Adnoc signs new long-term pact for base oil sales to India

By Rajive Singh

ABU DHABI 24 April 2019: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) announced that it has signed another significant long-term sales agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation (Indian Oil) for its high-quality base oil, ADbase.

Ahmad bin Thalith, Acting Senior Vice President of Refined Products Sales, in Adnoc’s Marketing, Supply and Trading directorate, said, “The signing of this important sales agreement, with another major base oil consumer in a large and growing market, is testament to the quality and reliability of Adnoc’s Group III base oil, ADbase. We look forward to working with IndianOil and to increasing the supply of ADbase to the Indian market, which continues to see strong demand for high quality base oil and finished lubricants.”

Indian Oil is one of the world’s largest companies, ranked 137 on the Fortune 500 list. It is the largest seller of finished lubricants in the Indian market with approximate volume of 450,000 tonnes per annum. The total Indian market for finished lubricants is 2 million tonnes and is growing at the rate of 2.4 percent per annum. Indian Oil will use the ADbase oils to manufacture high end engine oils for India’s growing automotive sector, said Wam.

Subimal Mondal, Executive Director (Lubes) at IndianOil, said, “Indian Oil is a long-standing partner of Adnoc and we look forward to building on and strengthening the links between our two companies. The high quality of Adnoc’s ADbase product, combined with strong logistics support and the proximity of the UAE to India, was key in our decision to sign this agreement.”

The signing of this agreement follows a recent signing with Xiamen Sinolook Oil Company to supply ADbase into China, and the 2017 and 2018 exclusive agreements with Penthol C.V., and Chemlube for the supply of ADbase into the United States and Europe.

Adnoc Refining produces up to 500,000 metric tonnes per year of Group III base oil and around 100,000 metric tonnes per year of Group II base oil, at its Ruwais refinery. Murban, Abu Dhabi’s light, high paraffinic crude is used as feedstock for Base Oil plant, which ensures a consistent, high quality product.

ADbase has a high Viscosity Index (VI) making it an ideal lubricant component, ensuring efficiency and fuel economy for high performance engines, while meeting ever stringent environmental regulations.

Adnoc has already completed API SN approval, GM Dexos 1, ILSAC GF-5, and 0w-20 for full synthetic motor oils, and is actively working with additive companies to achieve Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEM, and European Automobile Manufacturers Association, ACEA, formulation approvals.