Kirloskar partners with Gulf Petrochem to launch K-Oil in Middle East, Africa

UAE-based Gulf Petrochem has partnered with a subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Kirloskar Group to launch a specialised diesel engine oil in the Middle East and African markets.

The engine oil will be launched following an extensive six-month engine trial and product evaluation and will build upon strong foundations in India, where K-Oil has been servicing engines, spare parts and gensets for over 15 years.

Gulf Petrochem announced the partnership with Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (KOEL), part of India's engineering conglomerate Kirloskar Group, to launch K-Oil into the Middle East and African markets.

"Following a rigorous testing at Kirloskar R&D in Pune, the robust design and proven performance in extreme conditions ensures the final product will be suitable for all types of diesel engines," a joint statement released by the two companies here said.

Gulf Petrochem Group specialises in oil trading and bunkering, oil refining, grease manufacturing, oil storage terminals, bitumen manufacturing, and shipping and logistics.

"This is a great opportunity to expand into the Middle East & African market and compliments KOEL as part of our value addition and portfolio enhancement. What makes us particularly positive about the move is the reputation and expertise of our partner, Gulf Petrochem, and the quality of the product, which is designed to withstand demanding conditions such as those in the region. We believe the demand here will be high," KOEL Managing Director Rahul Kirloskar said.

Sudhir Goyel, managing director of Gulf Petrochem, said: "Due to the extreme weather conditions we face in the Middle East and Africa, these products are ideally suited to the growing market here and the fact it is designed by an engine manufacturer will only strengthen its appeal."