An extension of the localisation partnership between global brand ExxonMobil and African Group Lubricants (AGL) holds the promise of an abundant harvest for South Africa’s agricultural sector. In May, Stats SA reported that in the first quarter of 2023 more than 888 000 people were employed in primary agriculture, up 5% year on year. The agricultural sector has great potential for growth and development.
Mark Kerwan, AGL managing director says: “In order to fully unlock this potential, the sector will need to focus on creating a more enabling environment for investment, innovation, and commercialisation. The sector will also need to improve its productivity and efficiency in order to compete in global markets.”
Priced locally
The Mobil Agri product range provides extended engine service life, improved engine protection, longer drain intervals, reducing the cost of maintenance for the farmer and as such, improving productivity and lowering cost.
Most important for South African farmers, the range of products, specifically designed for engines, clutches, hydraulic systems and wet brakes in tractors and agricultural machinery, will now be blended locally at AGL’s ISO certified and well-established Boksburg facility. Approved by ExxonMobil for its exacting standards, this means, that for the first time in more than a decade, these products are now available to the South African Agri sector, blended in SA to global standards and priced locally.
Safeguards
For the sector this will make keeping machinery in excellent working order more affordable and accessible, offering protection from the fluctuating exchange rate and long wait times. Ahmed El Sadek, AME FDS and Alliances Manager of ExxonMobil says, “We are proud of our long-time presence in South Africa. Now we are taking this to the next level through our alliance with AGL to include local blending, meeting customer and industry demands and delivering the optimum consumer experience.”
It is important for every business operating to safeguard the environment it operates in. For the new Agri range of products, the AGL team chose to discard the standard 20L pail and opt instead for a 20L bucket. These buckets can be repurposed/used for a multitude of secondary purposes once their primary function is over.
Recycling programme
AGL’s Boksburg plant has a well-established recycling programme. This ensures waste is separated and given to EnviroServ for safe disposal or recycling. AGL is also a proud member of the ROSE (recycling oil saves the environment) Foundation, funded by the members of the lubricants industry to encourage the safe disposal of used products.
With agriculture being vitally important to the continent, the range is not only distributed locally but further into countries like the DRC, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique to name a few.
