Tata Motors and Petronas Lubricants India partner for used-oil recycling pilot

Petronas Lubricants India and Tata Motors have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a pilot program for the structured collection and recycling of used automotive lubricants. The initiative will initially operate in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

The project aims to establish a scalable and traceable system to manage used lubricants, which are classified as hazardous waste. Under the model, Tata Motors will utilize its authorized service network to facilitate the collection of oil during vehicle maintenance. Petronas Lubricants India will then manage the aggregation and movement of the collected oil through authorized channels to registered recyclers.

The recycled waste will be processed into high-quality re-refined base oil, which can be reintegrated into the production of new lubricants. This circular economy approach is intended to reduce reliance on virgin base oils, support India’s Extended Producer Responsibility framework, and prevent hazardous waste from entering informal or environmentally unsafe disposal channels.