Petronas Lubricants, Tata Motors collaborate for pilot used lubricant recycling model

Mumbai: Petronas Lubricants India on Wednesday announced signing an initial pact with Tata Motors for a pilot project for a structured and scalable used automotive lubricant recycling model simultaneously across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

The collaboration brings together the complementary strengths of two industry leaders to address a critical sustainability challenge, a statement said.

The project also supports compliance with India's evolving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework and advances the country's circular economy ambitions, it added.


"Our collaboration with Tata Motors marks an important step toward building a scalable model for used oil circularity and reflects the strength of our channel network as we work to significantly reduce our carbon footprint across operations," said Binu Chandy, Managing Director, Petronas Lubricants India.

The initiative will establish an organised and traceable system for managing used lubricants classified as hazardous waste - from collection and storage through to recycling, where the used oil can be converted into high-quality re-refined base oil.

The Petronas Group firm will pilot the aggregation and movement of used lubricants through authorised and specialised collection mechanisms, ensuring their channelisation to genuine, registered recyclers, while Tata Motors will leverage its extensive authorised service network to enable structured collection and promote responsible disposal across its ecosystem, the company said.

By improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental risk, the pilot seeks to strengthen benchmarks for responsible waste management and support India's broader transition towards a circular, resource-efficient economy, it stated.

"Through our collaboration with Petronas Lubricants India, we are taking a significant step towards establishing a structured framework for the collection, recovery, and recycling of used automotive lubricants. This pilot initiative aligns closely with our commitment to responsible resource stewardship and supports India's broader sustainability ambitions," said Vikram Agrawal, Head - Spares and Non-Vehicle Business, Tata Motors Ltd.

By bringing together the complementary strengths and expertise of our two organisations, the collaboration aims to assess the viability of a scalable used-oil recycling model that can drive long-term value and contribute to industry-wide progress, he added.