The Philippine government is forming a multi-agency group that will specifically address oil smuggling, according to Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras. Initially, the group will include representatives from the Department of Energy, Finance and Justice. “From VAT [value added tax] alone, we have been losing Php10 billion (US$225.19 million) a year from oil smuggling,” Almendras said. The Bureau of Customs has previously proposed measures to Congress, including strengthening the anti-smuggling provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code. (Friday, September 03, 2010)

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a circular directing the country’s domestic carriers to make in-house operational changes that would result in fuel savings. By mid-October, all domestic carriers should submit reports of their fuel consumption patterns to the DGCA. Every quarter, the regulator will review their performance. Air traffic contributes about 3% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world. (Thursday, September 02, 2010)

Daihatsu Motor Co., on track to become Japan's top mini-car producer for the fifth straight year, is rushing to boost its competitiveness against the rising wave of green cars by raising the mileage of its vehicles as well as improving production efficiency. The carmaker's stock closed on September 1 at 1,128 yen (US$13.42), up 6.3% from the previous day, defying the market's general bearishness, after hitting its year-to-date high at one point. (Thursday, September 02, 2010)

BP has agreed to sell its interests in ethylene and polyethylene production in Malaysia to Petronas. The agreement concerns BP's 15% interest in Ethylene Malaysia Sdn Bhd (EMSB) and 60% interest in Polyethylene Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PEMSB), both of which are operated by Petronas, and are located at Kertih, on the east coast of Malaysia. Under the terms of the agreement, Petronas will pay US$363 million in cash to BP, inclusive of a balance sheet adjustment of US$13 million and the repayment of a shareholder loan of US$53 million. Both parties anticipate completing the transaction by the end of 2010. (Wednesday, September 01, 2010)

B.K.L. Co. Ltd. has put a lubricant blending plant into production in the Mekong Delta province of Long An, with a goal of capturing 5% to 10% of the Vietnamese market. Company Director Tran Minh Nhut said the company had spent some US$1.3 million building the plant, which is located in the Thanh Phat Industrial Zone in the Ben Luc District. The company will supply the market Yuki-branded lubricants for cars and motorbikes, besides traditional oils for industrial processing products such as wood, rubber and fertilizer. The first phase will produce 3,000 products per hour, while the second phase, planned for next year, will produce 5,000 products per hour. Base oils and additives for the plant will be imported from Singapore, the Middle East, the United States and Europe. (Wednesday, September 01, 2010)