In a bid to diversify their economies and capitalise on the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), national oil companies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are planning to extract lithium from brine in their oilfields.
The move signals a strategic shift for oil-producing nations as they seek alternative sources of wealth amidst the global transition away from fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has invested significantly in positioning itself as a hub for EVs under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Sources revealed that Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) are in the early stages of exploring lithium extraction from brine, which is considered a critical mineral due to its essential role in battery manufacturing for electric vehicles. However, specific details regarding the extraction technology were not disclosed, and both companies declined to comment on the matter.
Direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, although in its infancy, presents advantages such as avoiding the environmental challenges associated with traditional mining methods. By filtering lithium from saltwater brine, Saudi Arabia and the UAE can leverage their expertise in handling oil brine and wastewater at oil production sites.
Launched! It’s the first time that Petronas has ever done an official launch in Thailand, and since it’s for motorcycles, what better venue than at the iconic Phuket Bike Week!
It was indeed a full-on razzmatazz affair right at the centre stage of PBW, in fact, the branding for Petronas is so strong at this year’s event, I wouldn’t be surprised if first timers here would mistake it for a Petronas bike event instead of PBW.
More details on the new Petronas Sprinta engine oil launched will come soon, in the meantime, enjoy the sights and sounds of Phuket Bike Week in the videos below!
Singapore-based lubricant specialist, Contix Asia Pte Ltd (or the Company) today introduced its range of specially formulated Unixx engine oils to Malaysians with a commitment to providing consistently high quality engineered performance at competitive prices. These engine oils use only the highest quality basestocks and are produced at ISO certified facilities in Singapore and Thailand.
Mr Tan Kok Hwee, Regional Sales and General Manager of Contix Malaysia said at the launch, “Unixx engine oils are designed to enhance the overall performance of the car and meet the highest API and ACEA standards as well as various OEM specifications, emissions and energy standards. Unixx products are tested after each production run for consistency in quality and we are confident that Unixx is an ideal product for the driving conditions in Malaysia, providing good shear stability and cleaner engines. The result is a more responsive engine and a smoother drive.”
The launch of Unixx engine oils coincide with the Company’s involvement in the upcoming Thailand Super Series which was held at the Sepang International Circuit on the weekend of March 30 to April 1, 2018.
Mr Tan shared, “We are truly privileged and proud to be collaborating with the Unixx TR Motorsports Race Team. Unixx has been tried, tested and most importantly, proven in a variety of cars participating in track racing, endurance, drag, drift and other race events in the region. These engines perform under extreme conditions protected by Unixx and we are committed to constantly improve our formulations and develop specialty grades of automotive engine oils, including our much-anticipated Racing Formula 5w50.”
“Contix Asia is in its 3rd year as the official sponsor of Unixx TR Motorsports Race Team. We were champions of the 2017 Thailand Super Series, Supercar GTC class, competing in a 1st generation Porsche 977 with a 3600cc engine producing 375WHP. The year prior, we were runner up in the Thailand Super Production category, racing in a Honda City. Thomas Raldorf, the team’s driver for 2018 will be racing in a 2nd generation Porsche 997 GT3 with a 4000cc engine producing 510WHP at the Thailand Super Series race in the GTM class at Sepang” he added.
Thomas comes from a prominent racing family and has been driving competitively since the age of 10! His father, Oluf Raldorf is a very successful Rally and Circuit Racing driver from Denmark. He moved to Thailand permanently in 1997 and has been racing there since 1998, winning over 40 races in Karting, Endurance and various other race events. Please visit http://tr-motorsport.com for more information on the team.
Unixx also actively supports various local street racing events. We are the main event sponsor of GXP in Thailand and sponsor of the Unixx JMS Tuner Motorsport, racing in the Malaysian Speed Festival circuit. “We are very proud of Azri, our sponsored driver from Kajang. He only started racing a couple of years ago and finished 5th overall in the 2017 season and 1st in Round 1 of the 2018 Malaysian Speed Festival,” Mr. Tan added.
Also at the launch was Mr Justin Chen, Managing Director of Contix Asia, “We are constantly developing our range of proprietary products and will expand our range of products in Malaysia to include our Unixx Racing Formula engines oils. These oils are formulated with Polyalphaolefins (PAO) and come in a range of viscosities. We also have a specially formulated 5w50 fully synthetic oil for cars operating under extreme conditions like racing. For now, we will bring in our more popular range of oils which includes our fully synthetic Unixx Professional Formula 5W-40 engine oil, a synthetic blend Unixx Performance Formula 10W-40 engine oil, a 10w-30 and 15W-40 diesel engine oil.”
Unixx also produces a range of industrial lubricants which is available in China, Thailand and Myanmar. For more information, contact the distributors listed below the photo gallery, or visit the Unixx website at https://contix.co/ or follow Unixx Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/unixxmsia/for the latest news.
For the full price list of Unixx Oils click this: Unixx Price List
For more details on the range of Unix Oils available click the links below:
MaxxOil Malaysia, an oil distributor in the region has launched a new app that is aimed at simplifying vehicle maintenance and in turn, making it more convenient for its owners. The app, Maxx ‘N Go was launched at the Royal Chulan, KL by its brand ambassador, Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, YB Datuk Seri Ir. Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The app was designed and made available online in December 2016 and within a span of a few months, about 15,000 downloads were recorded. The app allows users to schedule an on site oil change service according to their convenience. Once they have selected a time and date, a mechanic from a nearby area will pop on over to your selected location and conduct a routine oil change on your vehicle by utilizing Maxx Oil’s products. This negates the need to take your vehicle to a service centre, instead the service centre comes to you. The app’s services are available for use, seven days a week, which is an improvement over what were are currently used to.
Besides regular consumers, Maxx Oil has also partnered with Grab Malaysia, making Maxx ‘N Go the panel’s service provider. As such, Grab’s driver partners can now get an exclusive discount on services by using the app. This will make it more convenient for Grab partners to get their vehicles serviced as and when they find most convenient.
Another tie up involved Maxx Oil and Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Car Dealer & Credit Companies Association (FMC). Through the use of the app, FMC’s car dealers are entitled to receive a special rate in a commission scheme. This places less of a burden on car dealers who need to ensure that vehicles on their lots are serviced at regular intervals. Instead of taking individual vehicles to service centres, well trained technicians will conduct maintenance work on the dearler’s lot.
As of now, the Maxx ‘N Go app services only covers Selangor and the Klang Valley but in a couple of months, users in Ipoh, Penang, Johor and Kelantan will be able to enjoy the same services described earlier. The app is available for download through the Google Play Store for Android devices and Apple’s App Store for iOS ones.
