The 5th Rosefield Conference on Circular Economy in Used Oil, organised by Rosefield Energy Tech at The LaLiT, New Delhi, brought together more than 218 delegates representing lubricant manufacturers, OEMs, recyclers, re-refiners, additive companies, technology providers, policymakers and sustainability leaders from across the used oil value chain.
Held under the theme “Operationalising EPR: Building the RRBO Ecosystem”, the conference focused on accelerating the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), strengthening collection systems, advancing re-refining technologies and driving the adoption of Re-Refined Base Oils (RRBO) in India.
Welcoming the delegates, Mr. Shailendra Gokhale, Founder & Director, Rosefield Energy Tech, highlighted the industry’s transition from awareness-building to the implementation of circular economy principles. He emphasised the growing importance of organised collection, re-refining and EPR compliance in reducing India’s dependence on imported hydrocarbons.
Delivering the Chief Guest address, Dr. SSV Ramakumar, CTO & EVP, AM GREEN–GREENKO, underscored the strategic importance of circular economy initiatives in strengthening energy security and promoting the wider adoption of RRBO-based lubricants. He called for greater OEM participation, technology upgrades and supportive policy measures to accelerate ecosystem development.
The keynote address by Dr. Virinder Sharma, Member (Technical), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Government of India, highlighted the link between used oil recycling and improved air quality. He noted that preventing the burning of used oil while promoting organised collection and re-refining can significantly contribute to emissions reduction and better public health outcomes.
A key highlight of the conference was the launch of Rosefield Insights – Issue 2 (May 2026), featuring perspectives from government representatives, OEMs, lubricant manufacturers, recyclers, sustainability experts and technology providers on the future of the circular economy and EPR implementation in India.
Growing Acceptance of RRBO-Based Lubricants
The conference also featured a dedicated OEM session with presentations by Mr. Sethuramalingam T., General Manager – Power System Engineering, Engineering Research Center, Tata Motors Ltd., and Mr. Senthil Kumar, DGM – Engine Development, Ashok Leyland. Tata Motors shared its successful validation and deployment of RRBO-blended lubricants within its service ecosystem, while Ashok Leyland emphasised the importance of quality consistency and the need for higher-quality Group II and Group III RRBOs to meet future vehicle and emissions system requirements.
Providing an international perspective, Mr. Timothy Langlais, Chief Strategy Officer, PURAGLOBE, shared global best practices from Europe and North America, highlighting the importance of disciplined collection systems, traceability, feedstock quality and ecosystem-wide collaboration in achieving successful circularity outcomes.
The conference also examined the challenges involved in scaling India’s used oil circularity ecosystem, including RRBO quality consistency, collection infrastructure, technology adoption, financing and market acceptance. Speakers stressed that stronger collaboration among producers, OEMs, collectors, recyclers, policymakers and technology providers would be essential to achieving EPR targets and building a robust RRBO ecosystem.
Charting the Road Ahead
The event concluded with a CEO Roundtable titled “Building the Last Mile – Bridging Policy, Industry & Market”, moderated by Mr. Gautam Mehra, Chairman & Managing Director, Savita Oil Technologies. The panel featured Mr. S. Kannan, Executive Director & Business Head – Lubricants, BPCL; Mr. Sarvesh Kumar, Executive Director – Hydrotreating & Technical Services, IOCL (R&D); Dr. Alois Virag, CEO & President, PURAGLOBE Holding GmbH; Mr. Anand Jha, Head – Allied Business (CVBU), Tata Motors Limited; Mr. Krishan Kumar Handa, CGM – Highway Retailing, HPCL; and Mr. Philip Mathew, Secretary General, PRAI. Discussions centred on EPR implementation, traceability, collection systems, advanced re-refining technologies and the long-term market acceptance of RRBO-based lubricants.
A key takeaway from the conference was the growing recognition of the circular economy as a strategic driver of resource efficiency, energy security, carbon reduction and industrial competitiveness.
The conference also showcased RecykLube by Rosefield Energy Tech, an integrated circular economy initiative that supports the industry through used oil collection, EPR advisory services, EPR fulfilment, RRBO procurement, audits, training and awareness programmes, helping stakeholders navigate the evolving EPR landscape.
Building on this momentum, Rosefield Energy Tech will host the 4th Rosefield Conference for Lubricants & Fuels on 28–29 October 2026 at NESCO, Mumbai. The event will feature more than 50 exhibition stalls, the Rosefield Awards, engaging conference sessions and high-level networking opportunities for industry leaders from across the lubricants and fuels value chain.