Weybridge, United Kingdom, 19 February 2019 – PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) unveiled its unique base oil ETRO+, the next evolution in Group III base oils. An improvement from the existing ETRO brand, ETRO+ is a Group III+ base oil that promotes fuel efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions.
ETRO+ base oil is used in PETRONAS’ own finished lubricant products as well as marketed to other leading lubricant manufacturers worldwide as part of PLI’s ongoing commitment to develop fluid solutions that meet the energy challenges of today and beyond.
“With the help of better fuels and lubricants, we can meet the world’s future mobility needs with reduced emissions. An important lever is to make high quality, fluid technology solutions accessible to all. With the introduction of ETRO+, we hope to change the traditional terms of engagement and help advance access to clean and energy efficient mobility solutions for all,” said Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Lubricants International, Giuseppe D’Arrigo.
Base oils make up an average of 60 to 80 percent of finished lubricants. To produce top-tier, energy conserving lubricants, the automotive industry relies on expensive polyalphaeolefins (PAO) – a key ingredient in high-grade oils.
ETRO+ offers a readily available solution that meets emissions reduction requirements with its high viscosity index, low cold-cranking simulator (CCS) viscosity and low NOACK. The product is introduced with the overall aim of providing accessibility of sustainable and cleaner solutions to a wider market.
PLI supports the drive to address the climate challenge through the development of emissions-reducing fluid technologies. In 2018, the company pledged 75% of its research and development investment towards developing innovative solutions that contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.
ETRO+ is a unique base oil currently produced in PETRONAS’ specially-designed Group III plant in Malaysia with further expansion plans globally. The announcement of ETRO+ was made in conjunction with the PETRONAS’ 10th Year Base Oil Business Anniversary.
At the launch, PETRONAS President and Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said PETRONAS is proud to reveal the PETRONAS Yamaha SRT and PETRONAS Sprinta Racing liveries, as the unveiling marks a significant moment for PETRONAS and the Malaysian motorsports industry.
He added: “PETRONAS’ involvement in motorsports has spanned decades through our entry in Formula One and MotoGP. This partnership marks PETRONAS’ presence in the whole spectrum of motorcycle racing, from the grassroots level in Cub Prix right up to the international races of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 further enhancing our global branding and technology partnership, particularly in the field of fuel and lubricants. Through PETRONAS’ Fluid Technology Solutions, we aim to significantly contribute to the teams’ performance by developing and testing customised product formulations to further boost its competitive edge.”
Meanwhile, Sepang International Circuit Chief Executive Officer and Team Principal of PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali said: “The launch of the team marks our intention as a serious contender in the new 2019 MotoGP season. It has been an unbelievable journey so far and the excitement continues.
“This launch is for all Malaysian fans who have been supporting Malaysian MotoGP since 1991. We have come a long way and evolved to this point because of the success of Malaysian MotoGP. The journey so far marked the hard work of the team, PETRONAS and Yamaha. We worked tirelessly to get everything ready for today and for the first test at Sepang International Circuit in February. We know there’s a lot more work ahead but today, let’s enjoy this team presentation and be proud of what we have achieved so far.”
