From 4 July the company name of ConocoPhillips has changed to Phillips 66.
The name change in the UK follows ConocoPhillips’ global repositioning of its upstream and downstream operations to create two independently operated companies, which took place on 1 May of this year. As a result of the repositioning, Phillips 66 Limited, a subsidiary of Phillips 66, is focused on downstream refining, marketing operations and trading in the UK. Despite the change in name, the company will continue to market its fuel brand in the UK as Jet®.
“Although the name Phillips 66 may be new to many in the UK sector, Phillips 66 already has a rich heritage in many countries across the world. This, combined with the assets we already have in place and the unrivalled expertise and knowledge of our people, ensures we are launching from a position of strength that few in the marketplace can match,” said Pete George, manager, UK and Ireland marketing.
“Even on day one, we rank as one of the largest and best performing players in the UK industry, boasting an enviable customer base and an impressive portfolio of business divisions, including consumer-facing marketing and our world-class Humber Refinery,” continued Pete George.
A key part of Phillips 66’s global refinery portfolio, the Humber Refinery, is one of the most advanced in the world. Since its construction in the early sixties, it has been the focus of hundreds of millions of pounds worth of near-continuous investment in its facilities.
With a daily crude oil processing capacity of 221,000 barrels, it produces a range of light products and fuel oil, from low sulphur petrol and diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as well as marine and aviation fuels. Approximately 70 per cent of the light oils produced in the refinery are marketed in the UK, while the other products are exported to customers and markets across Europe and the US.
Phillips 66 has a diverse range of customers spanning a number of sectors, including resellers and supermarkets, as well as Jet’s 350-strong network of independently operated forecourts. Aviation and marine will continue to be key markets for the business in the UK.
“The autonomy we will enjoy as Phillips 66 will give us greater focus and flexibility to anticipate and respond to the demands of the marketplace. We are excited for the future and ready to meet the needs of our customer base,” concluded Pete George.
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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has failed to prove that fuel suppliers are abusing their position in Shetland and other rural areas. Whilst the OFT did find a large...
The latest independent figures show oil prices have become more competitive over the last four years. LPG remains the most expensive fuel for off gas main customers.
According to the Sutherland Tables, the price gap between oil and mains gas has narrowed from 48% in 2008 to 37% in 2012.
Additionally, there is now very little difference between the price of heating an average three-bedroom home with oil, electricity or wood pellets.
The results coincide with the announcement by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that the number of fuel poor households in the UK fell to 4.75m in 2010, from 5.5m in 2009. The DECC report says that improvements in the energy efficiency of the housing stock and installations of energy efficient boilers (32% of households had condensing boilers in 2010 compared with 24% in 2009) enabled households to heat their home with less energy. There was also little change in prices for domestic energy between 2009 and 2010.
OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley said: “Oil is still one of the most competitive fuels for off gas main properties in rural areas, and it’s reassuring that the move towards condensing boilers has helped contribute to a reduction in fuel poverty.”
For an average three-bedroom house, it costs £1929 per annum to provide heating and hot water with LPG, while oil is 27% cheaper at £1408.Return to emailshot
Lewis Tankers has won a two-year contract from PetroIneos Fuels to transport biofuel (‘denatured’ bioethanol) by road from bulk storage tanks located in the Grangemouth Docks to the company’s fuel terminal at the Grangemouth refinery.
To meet the UK government’s targets under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, refiners are required to blend gasoline with a proportion of bioethanol, currently 5%. PetroIneos imports bulk quantities of bioethanol into Grangemouth in its natural form and ‘denatures’ by mixing it with one per cent gasoline.
As part of the contract, Lewis Tankers will also transfer the gasoline used in the ‘denaturing’ process from the PetroIneos terminal to the Docks storage tanks prior to each new shipment of bioethanol arriving. Transport is scheduled so that the tanks are empty prior to the gasoline being added to ensure accurate mixing.
PetroIneos Fuels markets and sells the fuels supplied by the refinery at Grangemouth. The business supplies in the region of 9 million litres of fuels per day. In Northern England, the company owns a road distribution centre at Dalston, near Carlisle.
Lewis Tankers currently operates a fleet of over 80 tankers from 9 operating bases within the UK. With a string of safety awards and an exemplary operating record, Lewis Tankers serves a number of leading customers in the oils, chemicals and gases sectors, including Air BP, Scottish Fuels, Gulf Aviation, Brenntag, Univar, Stepan, Sasol, Scotia Gas Networks, Q8 and World Fuel Services.Return to emailshot
The first recipient of the Suckling Transport service provider of the year award is the Southampton-based Harwood Truck Centre.
Crown Oil has won a HazardEx award for its environmental contribution to industry.
The award follows a flawless operation – reported in Fuel Oil News – in which the company removed and recycled 6.4 million litres of gas oil from Derwent Power Station in Derbyshire.
General manager, Mark Andrews, commented: “Transport and fuel oils are our core business. We strive to be responsible in the way we conduct the business and minimise our environmental impact in every way we can. To win recognition for this is something of which all the team can be very proud.”
Crown Oil takes its environmental responsibilities seriously, says Mark. The company opened an environmentally friendly HQ just last year, and all fuel deliveries by the company are carbon offset. Additionally, it offers red diesel users options to totally carbon offset their fuel. For combined heat and power plants, Crown has a high grade biofuel, derived from 100% sustainable sources. This enables users to collect maximum renewable obligation certificates to offset against other carbon producing activity.
In response to the recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Edinburgh, the Energy Institute (EI) has released new guidance for the oil and gas industry.
The Energy Institute’s occupational health and hygiene committee has updated its existing technical guidance, and is working on a second publication specific to cooling tower maintenance, both of which are now available to pre-order. This technical advice covers the guidelines set out by the Health and Safety Executive.
Committee chair, Lynne Morgan FEI, said: “The problem for the industry is that water systems can become heavily contaminated with potentially lethal bacteria. The committee’s responsibility is to advise industry on appropriate workplace, health protection issues and, where possible, provide relevant technical guidance and control measures. Further to this publication, additional guidance will follow to specifically address maintenance of cooling towers for the control of Legionella.”
The second publication, entitled Cooling tower maintenance and other controls for the effective management of Legionella risk, will be available later in the year.
Orders can be made online at www.energypublishing.org
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Fairbanks has agreed a deal to provide Euro Garages with a wetstock management service.
Euro Garages, a Blackburn-based company own petrol forecourts with food franchises, and all 74 of its service stations are set to have the ibank technology installed.
“A wetstock management service such as Fairbanks’ is critical when managing a petrol retail network,” said Euro Garages managing director, Mohsin Issa. “Their real-time service allows us to have access to valuable, intelligent information and reporting tools as well as providing peace of mind that any potential wetstock issues will be identified and resolved quickly.’’
“in addition to their loss detection analysis,Fairbanks’ daily, weekly and monthly reports give me everything I need to keep the network running smoothly,” added regional manager Guy Bickerstaffe.
“Euro Garages are a very successful and dynamic business and we are excited to be working closely with them as they continue to expand their network,” said Michelle King,Fairbanks’ operations director for the UK and Ireland.Return to emailshot
Keyfuels has appointed Laura Balmforth as its new marketing executive.
Laura will be working closely with the company’s management and sales teams to help develop strategies for ongoing business growth, building strong partner and customer relationships and helping to identify new opportunities.
Managing director, Peter Bridgen, said: “It’s an extremely exciting time. Over the last few years we’ve increased our network by more than 50%, providing the largest wholesale priced network in the UK. Our market position has been built up on the strength of this network coupled with our ability to work in partnership with our customers to develop fuel management strategies that make a real difference to their bottom line.
“Laura’s appointment highlights our ongoing investment in people as well as our commitment to providing a first class customer service.”
For the second year running, Keyfuels, which employs over 50 people at its Walsall headquarters, has achieved one to watch status in the Best Companies accreditation scheme.
Peter McCarthy, service and operations director, commented: “This award is very special to us as it is based entirely on staff feedback. We understand that the biggest assets any company can have are its people and we work hard to ensure that we communicate effectively with all staff.”
www.keyfuels.co.uk.
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Norbert Dentressangle fought off stiff competition to win the training category at the 2012 Motor Transport Awards.
The company’s learning and development managers, Chris Dolby (logistics) and Dawn Boatswain (transport services), received the trophy from Commercial Motor editor, Will Shiers. Chris Dolby said: “Our strategy is to develop a culture of high performance, capable of adapting swiftly to new opportunities and challenges in order to deliver profitable growth.”
Norbert Dentressangle is committed to the training and development of its colleagues and, despite tough economic conditions, has continued to invest in the development and delivery of bespoke training programmes for the shared benefit of its employees, the business and its customers. The company’s award entry focused on its management development programme, safe driving plan and driver CPC training.
www.norbert-dentressangle.co.uk
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