Changing Tracks

Ceypetco will amend earlier plans to restrict its lubricant suppliers, allowing as many as possible to sell at its sheds from January next year.







Ceypetco will amend earlier plans to restrict its lubricant suppliers, allowing as many as possible to sell at its sheds from January next year.

Under earlier terms, about eight suppliers would sell for a year, with four of the best in terms of sales volumes, being picked by end 2005.

“There is a change in the concept and we now we are trying to allow as many as possible to supply lubricants at our sheds.

We have found that there are many people waiting in line,” Manager, Corporate Reforms, Hilmi Sulaiman said.

“We will be revising it to an open tender and advertising again tomorrow,” he added.

The state oil giant called for bids last month to tie up with multiple lubricant suppliers when its exclusivity agreement with Caltex ends this year.

Caltex extended its exclusive distribution rights to sell at all 100 of Ceypetco’s fuel sheds and about 300 franchise stations, from June until December this year, Caltex CEO, Kishu Gomez said.

The local lube market, estimated at about Rs.