Gulf Oil unveils Dhs40 million expansion plan

Petrochemicals leader eyes 20% market share in GCC
lubricants sector

Dubai, UAE, August 1, 2011:
Strong demand for industrial and automotive lubricant oils is driving Gulf
Oil’s expansion across the Middle East and North Africa. Unveiling its Dhs40
million expansion plan today, the company announced its ambition to expand
its regional operations to meet the demand, by quadrupling the production
capacities at its lubricant blending plants in the UAE and increasing automation.

Fully owned by the reputed Hinduja Group, the 111-year-old Gulf Oil is present

in more than 83 countries and has evolved as a formidable entity in the GCC’s

lubricants sector. This year, Gulf Oil expanded its blending and filling capacity in

the UAE from the present 50,000 tons per annum to 200,000 tons per annum to

meet its increased market share and sales.

“We are continuing our expansion strategy,” said V. Ramesh Rao, General

Manager and CEO of Gulf Oil Middle East Limited (GOMEL). “The Middle East’s

lube oil sector is as robust and dynamic as ever and has continued to support

the industrial development in the region. Gulf Oil commands 8 per cent of the

region’s lube oil market and we are keen to increase that share by more than 12

per cent in the next two years.”

Rao expected the main demand to come from the industrial, energy and marine

sectors. He was speaking at a high-profile event marking the company being

named as the first lubricants company in the GCC to be given an ISO 17025

certification by the Dubai Accreditation Department (DAC). The certification

allows GOMEL to undertake third-party petroleum and petrochemical testing at

its state-of-the-art laboratory in Jebel Ali.

He added that demand for lubricants in the GCC was expected to grow at 6 per

cent a year. “By increasing blending capacities at our Jebel Ali Unit 1 and Unit 2

facilities, we can easily satisfy regional requirements,” Rao said.

About Gulf Oil

Established in 1983, GULF OIL Middle East Limited (GOMEL) is a part of the GULF OIL

International group, with its main factory in Jebel Ali Free Zone. GOMEL handles Gulf

Oil operations in the Middle East Region and manufactures and markets lubricating

oils, greases, brake fluids, coolants, other automotive specialties. Being a 100% owned

subsidiary of Gulf Oil International, GOMEL manufactures products under license and

authority from Gulf Oil International. Gomel’s Jebel Ali Facility has been one of the first

lubricant plants in the Middle East to be certified ISO 9002, way back in 1994. The

company supplies to automotive retail, marine and industrial markets.

The company has its own warehouses in Dubai, Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and

Ras Al Khaimah. In addition, the company has sponsored operations in Oman (Muscat

and Salalah), Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait – with own supply infrastructure. The company

has its own distributors and distribution systems in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus,

Malta, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The company also exports its products to Tanzania,

Uganda, Congo, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Benin, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Morocco.