April 27, 2026 [Aster Chemicals]- Aster Chemicals and Energy Pte. Ltd. (Aster) and Puraglobe Germany GmbH (Puraglobe) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore the development of a Re-Refined Base Oil (RRBO) processing facility in Singapore – turning used motor oil into high-performance Group II/III/III+ base oils. These base oils are the invisible foundation of modern industrial life found in every car engine oil, jet engine lubricant, wind turbine gearbox, electric vehicle thermal fluid, and precision industrial machine.

The MOU activates a structured collaboration between two companies whose combined strengths – Puraglobe’s globally exclusive re-refining technology and Aster’s operational and commercial platform in Asia – make Singapore the launchpad for what would be the first such facility outside of Germany.

At its core, Project PURANOVA is about industrial precision: taking used motor oil, underutilized and largely wasted across Asia, and re-engineering it into base oils molecularly identical to virgin Group III/III+ products. Puraglobe’s proprietary HyLube and HyRes technologies enable a sustainable business model at industrial scale, no comparable highvolume facility exists outside of Germany today.

Dr. Alois Virag, Puraglobe’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Puraglobe has spent three decades proving that used motor oil is not waste, it is a premium feedstock waiting to be unlocked. We bring proven operating history across three German process trains, global offtake relationships with major lubricant manufacturers, and a technology stack continuously refined since our first commercial deployment in 2004. Singapore is the right base from which to bring this conviction to Asia. In Aster, we have found a partner that understands the industrial rigor this technology demands, the commercial ambition it deserves, and what it truly means to invest in the energy systems of tomorrow.”

Andre Khor, Aster’s Deputy CEO, said, “Aster was built on Singapore’s deep refining legacy, but we have never been content to simply maintain what we inherited. This collaboration with Puraglobe is a deliberate step toward the kind of advanced, higher-value production that defines Singapore’s next industrial chapter. Through this MOU, we will advance joint feasibility studies on Aster’s Bukom Island as the potential host site, evaluating technology integration, feedstock supply, site configuration, and the full economics of bringing this capability to market.”