Opportunity in Adversity: Fuelling the Future: Ultra Lubricants Community Outreach
Quikshoppe Plus: Taking Convenience Stores to the Next Level
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Editorial Column
CONTENT
OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY
2. Editorial: OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY Ultra Lubricants 3. NP DOMINICA: 25 years of Striving for Excellence Safety through Prevention: FIRE DRILL
Ultra Lubricants
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iven the current economic climate and the ongoing decline in world market prices for oil and gas, NP, like many other local and international businesses, has been forced to become innovative and cost-effective in its operations. Fortunately for this 44 year old state enterprise, included in its lines of business is the Lubricants Division which oversees the production and marketing of a vast array of automotive products which are specifically designed for this region’s climate and road conditions.
4. Blending for Sustained Growth: NP’S GREASE PLANT MARKS 30 YEARS 6 Taking Convenience Stores to the next level UWI Engineering Student gains a Working Knowledge 7. Fuelling the Future 8. Care Care Tips
Prospects for Growth and Opportunities Even in the face of adversity, there are opportunities that the Company intends to leverage through it current business model:
THA Fishing Tournament DISCLAIMER: The content of this publication is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property rights. Driven is published quarterly by the Corporate Communications Department for NP’s stakeholders. Corporate Communications Department Trinidad & Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited NP House, National Drive, Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain Tel: 868.625.1364-8 Ext: 280, 475, 476. Fax: 868.627.4028 Email: corpcomasst@np.co.tt Hotline: 800-NPMC (6762) Customer Service: customer_service@ np.co.tt
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Ultra Lubricants offer a range of internationally accredited motor oils for all classes of diesel and gasoline engines, as well as other automotive products. In a highly competitive lubricants market, NP continues to be a leader by increasing the operational efficiency of its Lube Oil Blending Plant (LOBP) and services offered to its customers. Key to the future success of the LOBP is the current plan to upgrade its quart and gallon filling lines to increase output efficiency. Of even greater significance for its consumers though is the new ergonomic bottle design which is expected to be launched in 2017, to allow easier and faster oil changes.
1. Operational Efficiency NP’s Lube Oil Blending Plant (LOBP) has been in operation for over 30 years. With a blending capacity of 100,000 barrels per annum and a Quality Control Laboratory, NP manufactures Industrial & Automotive Lubricating Oils and Greases in various package sizes. Contract blending services are offered to regional and international customers and lubricants are exported to 14 markets regionally. 2. Supporting the Sectors Locally and regionally, our lubricants are used in several industries including Power Generation, Exploration & Refining, Agriculture, Transport, Construction, Mining & Earth Moving, Marine and Manufacturing. NP offers a wide array of after sales services to these various industries. These
include: a. Oil Analysis Services via an internationally accredited in-house laboratory. b. Waste Oil Disposal Services. c. Technical Support Services from our team of experienced and internationally accredited STLE Technical Service Representatives. d. Educational Services on Lubrication Management Best Practices. 3. A broad range of product categories The Ultra range of Passenger Car Motor Oils (PCMO) automotive products include engine oils for multigrade, monograde and synthetic applications; two stroke motor oils; gear, transmission and power steering fluids; outboard motor oil; coolants; other automotive specialty products. NP’s industrial product range includes hydraulic fluids, process oils, turbine oils, form oils, gear oils and multipurpose greases in 5AG pails, 209Ltr drums and also in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) and bulk via Road Tank Wagons (RTWs)/Tanktainers. 4. Stamp of approval: Product Certifications NP/Ultra Multigrade and Synthetic lubricants meet the highest American Petroleum Institute (API) service ratings in each category - API SN for gasoline engines and API CJ-4 for diesel engines and the range of products adheres to the strict, quality standards stipulated by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). With the ability to locally create products that can match any of its foreign competitors, this part of NP’s operations holds the key to NP’s future viability with significant impact on the local economy by sustaining employment and contributing to GDP, thereby c r e a t i n g opportunities in the face of adversity.
T&T NATIONAL PETROLEUM MARKETING COMPANY LIMITED QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
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NP DOMINICA:
25 years of Striving for Excellence
Safety through Prevention:
FIRE DRILL Unveiling plans: L-R NP’s CEO (Ag) Mr. Kevin Motilal, together with Mr. Heskeith Brumant - Country Manager, NP Dominica, the Honourable Ian Douglas - Minister of Trade, Energy and Employment Dominica and Mr. Sahid Hosein Chairman of the Board of Directors, NP unveil the billboard showing the artist rendering of the new Canefield Service Station.
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his year is a very significant one for NP Dominica as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary on the island. NP Dominica was launched in 1991 with the establishment of Jet A1 services at the Canefield Airport. Wholly owned by parent company Trinidad & Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP), the company has since expanded and currently comprises and operates a Bulk Terminal, one (1) company owned service station and four (4) dealer- owned service stations located in the Anse de Mai, Delices, Goodwill and Newtown areas. During the past 25 years NP Dominica has built a tradition of excellence in providing its customers with reliable and consistent service. In addition to the sale of white fuels and lubricants at the Service Stations and Bulk Facility, the Dominica Branch provides a monopoly service selling Jet fuel to the two airports, namely the Canefield Airport and the Melville Hall Airport. As part of its ongoing investment in Dominica, in 2015 the Company upgraded its Lindo Park Service Station, outfitting it with new dispensers on the forecourt and all new piping and electrical systems throughout the site, and has other sites earmarked for upgrade and expansion in the future. In June, the plans for upgrading the Canefield Service Station were unveiled at a ceremony to mark the 25th Anniversary with expected improvements at the site including increased fuelling positions, faster transactions, increased payment options at the pumps and the refreshing of the convenience store. Indeed, over its twenty-five (25) year history in Dominica, NP has seen an expansion in its operations and is well positioned to continue to strengthen its presence as a significant player in the Dominican market.
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ithin recent times terrorist a t t a c k s , hurricane seasons and other natural disasters have highlighted the need to focus on improving airport emergency management, incident response capabilities, and coordination processes across the country. To this end NP’s HSE Department in conjunction with the Aviation Division got together with a host of external providers to conduct a Fire Drill at the fuelling facility in the airport.
the procedures to be adopted in the event of a general alarm requiring evacuation of the premises. Through NP’s continued participation in collaborative initiatives like this, it is hoped that the coordination and cooperation between and private agencies/organizations in these varied emergency management and incident response activities will prove both insightful and rewarding.
A well-coordinated exercise, the objectives were clear and included efforts to determine whether the Company’s Policy and Emergency Response Plan was adequate and effective, as well as to test the response capabilities of the External Agencies in time of emergencies at the facility. Additionally, attention was paid to the requirements of the OSH Act 2004 as amended 2006, and the ISO requirements, to ensurethat those were being met. There was also a focus on the legal requirements needed to obtain a Fire Certificate for means of escape in an emergency, and more importantly, to ensure that employees are aware of
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Blending for Sustained Growth:
NP’S GREASE PLANT MARKS 30 YEARS
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rinidad & Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP) has a long history in T&T, dating back to 1972 and the current Lube and Grease Plant has been a part of NP’s offering since 1986. Initially, NP manufactured greases under license for the company ILEX, however, in September 1986, NP began its own manufacturing operations to meet the growing needs of its customers locally and in the region. Over the last 30 years NP has steadily increased and improved the quality and output of the products that very grease plant has been able to manufacture. From inception, the Grease Plant extended NP’s presence locally and across the wider region, adding to its strong range of products. With a complement of three kettles and hoppers to make and store the grease, the majority of the greases NP manufactures are used to service a wide client base in a range of sectors including the automotive, industrial, manufacturing, agriculture and energy sectors.
Fulfilling Increasing Demand
The demand for grease products is on the rise and the plant has helped position NP to meet the increasing local demand and contribute to the growth of regional economies. The need for these very specific types of greases used by its client base is in fact so great that NP is expanding its operations and increasing its production output. Grease made at NP’s facility is used in a variety of industries and applications. One unique product made at NP’s grease
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plant is NP Open Gear Compound, which is the only one of its kind and is made by NP using local bitumen, base oil and additives. Although industrial customers claim the lion’s share of the Grease Plant’s products, the automotive industry is also a major consumer of NP’s greases as they are sought after by mechanics and car owners alike who use them on ball joints and bearings. Competitively priced, NP’s greases are widely valued and respected since the quality is on par with its foreign counterparts.
Ongoing Research and Development
After commissioning the grease plant, NP manufactured products under license from ILEX which included items like Apollo Tool Joint Thread Compound, Zinc 60, API High Pressure Modify, and Onion Drill Colour Thread Compound. Supporting the production of grease products is an onsite quality control laboratory and over the years NP has continued to improve and expand its product offering, adding many different products to the line. Soon, NP will launch a Multipurpose Complex Grease on the market as it keeps up with the changing trends and demands in the lubricant world. NP’s Lab Superintendent Peter Ransome explained, “Companies have started moving away from traditional lithium multipurpose based greases to the Lithium complex greases and NP wants to be a part of that development.” Indeed, NP’s Grease Plant marks a significant milestone with its 30th Anniversary as the Company continues to meet the growing needs of all its customers, both locally and up the region.
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For the past 10 years, GUYSUCO has been using products manufactured by NPMC, a reputable Manufacturer/Supplier of Ultra Lubricants and Greases within the Caribbean. Because of good product quality and reliability, our operations both factory and field (equipment), downtime has seen some reduction; though under severe and extreme conditions. Our factory and field engineers have endorsed Ultra Lubricants and Greases as dependable and of good quality.
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Wendell Hartman – Inventory Manager, Guyana Sugar Corporation.
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30 years of consistently providing products characterised by their: } PURITY } UNIFORMITY } STABILITY NP Officials tour the newly commissioned Lube Oil Blending Plant at Sea Lots, POS in 1986.
Production Line: NP’s Lube Oil Blending Plant, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean, produces a range of products.
Worker begins blending process in one of the kettles at the Grease Plant.
Ultra Lubricants on the production line. Two of the quality products produced at the Grease Plant.
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Taking Convenience Stores to the next level
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n many regions, convenience retail is big business as there is a fast growing trend to have the Quick Service Restaurants offer meals that consumers can quickly grab-and-go at their convenience. In its on-going efforts to modernize and upgrade its service and provide greater customer convenience and satisfaction at its stations, NP opened its doors to the first-ever QuikShoppe Plus at the St. Christopher’s service station on Wrightson Road. The QuikShoppe Plus takes the existing QuikShoppe brand into a new dimension with its superior store layout and finishings, while offering the public a variety of readyto-consume meals prepared on location, from a coffee bar to sushi to pre-packaged sandwiches to lunches. This progressive move on NP’s part is in keeping with international trends as convenience stores the world over are raising the bar on their foodservice offerings by providing easy and convenient ready-to-consume meals and snacks. Look out for more QuikShoppe Plus locations in the near future, starting with the reopening of the Starlite Diego Martin location in the next couple months!
UWI Engineering Student gains a Working Knowledge
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ike most institutions of higher education, UWI has been challenged with finding new ways to instill critical thinking and problem-solving skills for its engineering students, as they find it difficult to connect the heavily mathematics based subject material to real-life engineering situations. Recognising these challenges, NP as the industry leader in the local fuel market, approached the Engineering Faculty to
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engage the attention of UWI’s Mechanical Engineering students to have them undertake a project to mechanise the branding process for its LPG cylinders. The process used currently is a labourintensive one, and students were posed with the challenge to mechanise the process. In the end, it was final year Mechanical Engineering student Stefan Williams who was adjudged the budding engineer for the job.
Steffan Williams Final year Mechanical Engineering Student The University of the West Indies
NP looks forward to supporting academia and the innovative ideas of future engineers. “This project allowed me to apply the skills, principles and engineering techniques acquired during the course of my degree to a real-life engineering project.” Steffan Williams
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FUELLING THE FUTURE Providing a Creative Escape: NP’s Fuelling the Arts Vacation Camp
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hrough the story of a teenager and his reflection who both help each other navigate through the hardships of adolescence, onlookers of the grand finale of NP’s Fuelling the Arts Vacation Camp, were taken on a musical journey that included dancing, singing, drumming, spoken word poetry, steelpan, fashion and theatre. Held at the Auditorium of the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies (CLR) on Saturday 30th July 2016, the theatre production, appropriately entitled “Reflections”, saw over 75 campers from the Morvant Laventille area take to the stage to demonstrate the diverse skills acquired during the three-week camp (11th July – 29th July 2016).
The camp was a supervised programme that immersed the campers in a unique hands-on learning experience, which integrated essential life skills, specialized and other fun activities while offering an array of options in the arts. Reflecting on the success of the event, Mr. Sahid Hosein, Chairman of NP, who was among the many appreciative guests in attendance, expressed NP’s pride in having had a positive impact and in providing the campers with a creative escape. NP believes that young people are a powerful source for change and the arts give them a unique means of expression, capturing their passions, and allowing them to explore new ideas.
Athlete Excels in NP’s “Adopt-A-Player” Programme Jameel Neptune demonstrates his football skills while delivering a motivational lecture to Campers at NP’s Fuelling the Arts Vacation Camp July 2016.
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ameel Neptune, NP’s sponsored athlete recently earned the opportunity to represent our country with the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Futsal Team in Costa Rica.
On September 01, 2014 NP entered into a Sponsorship Agreement with Caledonia AIA in support of their “Adopt-A-Player” programme whereby the Company adopts a player who is considered an “at risk” athlete within the community, enabling the player to be mentored as an apprentice footballer of the Caledonia AIA football club. The Adopt-A-Player football programme consists of two (2) components: • Athletic Development: where the player trains with Caledonia AIA’s professional team and vies for a spot on its senior team • Personal Development: where the player participates in
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seminars, sessions and programmes geared towards providing them with essential life skills. Prior to this achievement, Jameel Neptune was awarded the title “Most Goals” in the just concluded tournament “Lucozade Goal Shield Champions” where Morvant Caledonia United was crowned as the “2016 Lucozade Goal Shield Champions”. Jameel is a fan favourite in the National Professional Football League as he continues to work hard and remain committed to becoming the best that he can be, both as an individual on the field of play, and as part of the wider society. NP is proud to sponsor Jameel Neptune and fully supports the work of Caledonia AIA, as the Company continues to focus on the positive development of our nation’s youth.
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TOBAGO
THA Fishing Tournament
8 CAR CARE TIPS THAT SAVE GAS 1. Fill up with a lower-octane gasoline. Buy the Super gasoline if
it is appropriate for your car. If you’re not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner’s manual and take a look. Unless your car requires Premium gasoline, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money.
2. Don’t top off. Don’t bother topping
off when filling your car’s gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won’t use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.
3. Go for the shade. The hot sun that
makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank. So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible. And buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car.
4. Check your tyre pressure once a month and pump up your tyres. Don’t get caught driving on underinflated tyres. Underinflated tyres wear down more quickly and they also lower your car’s gas mileage by as much as 15 percent. Also buy a digital gauge and keep it in your glove box. Compare the pressure in your tyres with the recommended pressure listed in your owner’s manual and on the placard in your car door. Be sure
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ltra Lubricants continues to be a proud sponsor of the very successful Commercial Fishing Tournament hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly’s Marine Resources and Fisheries Division.
to check tyre pressure when your tyres are cold. A good time is early in the morning after your car’s been idle overnight.
According to the THA, “this tournament, while highlighting the contribution of our fishers towards food security, also encourages safety at sea and other safe and healthy seafood handling practices.”
5. Keep your engine in tune. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You’ll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car’s fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
NP has been a part of the event for several years, as the Company continues to support and foster good relations with the fishing community. As trusted allies working towards the same ideals, NP specially engineered its Ultra Superstream for two stroke engines; a product which received the full support of the Fishing Association.
6. Replace air filters. Keep a close
eye on your engine’s air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you $1TT a gallon. It’s a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change.
It is certainly NP’s single-minded focus to continue to lead the way in providing innovation and affordable lubricants without ever compromising quality.
7. Use the right oil. You can improve
your car’s gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words “energy conserving” on the API performance label. This oil contains frictionreducing additives. We recommend our Ultra Lubricants which have been specifically formulated for our climate and road conditions.
8. Don’t skimp on maintenance.
Be serious about auto care. Your car’s performance depends on it.
Winners in a row: NP’s representative Wendy Baird, makes the presentation of Ultra Lubricants hampers to the Tobago winners.
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