As diesel imports currently account for 45% of the UK’s needs – Greenergy is ‘ensuring a low-cost and secure supply for our customers now and into the future’
Diesel importer Greenergy has responded to a recently published report by the RAC Foundation which says that with diesel being sold twice as fast as petrol, the ‘UK will become increasingly reliant upon imported diesel’.
“The RAC is right to point out that the UK is having to look further and further afield for the diesel we need,” said Greenergy chief executive Andrew Owens.
“That’s precisely why Greenergy has been investing in modern import terminals at North Tees and Thames Oilport. With their deep-water jetties, these investments will allow us to source more and more of our diesel direct from global producers, be they in the Middle East, Asia or the US, to ensure a low-cost and secure supply of diesel for our customers now and into the future.”
The Readdressing the balance between petrol and diesel demand report was written by Nick Vandervell who has worked in the oil industry since the early 1980s. From 2004 to the end of 2013 Nick was UKPIA’s communications director where he was responsible for developing and implementing a communications strategy that encompassed government and media relations. He co-authored or authored major publications for UKPIA including Meeting our energy needs – the Future of UK Oil Refining and Fuelling the UK’s future – the role of our refining and downstream oil industry.www.greenergy.comwww.racfoundation.org/media-centre/diesel-drought-risk-demand-up-supply-down
Certas Energy retail director, Ramsay MacDonald and cluster manager Senga Mulrine with TV comedian Alexander Armstrong
Gulf-branded Carronvale Service Station has received top prize in the Best Forecourt in Scotland (+4 million litres pa) category in the Forecourt Trader awards 2015.
“Carronvale is a site we are proud of,” said Colin Levy, retail operations manager at Certas Energy, which operates the flagship petrol forecourt.
“Although a large forecourt in a busy location, store manager Derek Paton and his team are still able to provide a personal touch and genuine customer service. Employees at the site listen to feedback to ensure the product range meets the customers’ needs. Within our growing company portfolio of 23 company-owned sites, Carronvale deserves its standing as our leading forecourt.”
“This award is testimony that we deserve our status as the company’s flagship store,” added Derek.
With one of the first principles of quality management being customer focus; understanding customers and seeking to meet their requirements, Mabanaft carries out a regular customer survey.
The survey helps to understand exactly what customers value, including just what drives their decision to use a particular fuel wholesaler.
This year Mabanaft achieved a record response and is very pleased by the feedback received. The company has yet again out-performed previous survey ratings, with scores remaining consistently high, in particular on aspects of service that customers rate as being of most importance.
“The feedback we receive helps us ensure that high standards are being met and maintained and that we continue to deliver on our customers’ requirements,” said Mabanaft’s marketing manager Martin Cook.
“We also find that it opens up communications, allowing customers to suggest ways of further improving our services which can even help us to gain a competitive edge over our competition.”
View results highlights here http://www.ie-marketing.co.uk/mabanaft/survey-infographic-2015.pdf and read the full report in the October issue of Fuel Oil News.
For more information please contact the Mabanaft sales team on 0207 802 3300. www.mabaLIVE.co.uk
Erecting the latest turbine at D J Davies Ammanford depot
Formed in 1971 D J Davies Fuels has diversified to offer its customers a range of energy products including fuel, coal, biomass and wind; a new turbine was recently erected beside the company’s Ammanford depot.
The company’s first turbine was erected in December 2014 and now supplies power to 400 homes.
Asked why the company had gone down the wind route, owner Alan Davies said: “There were several reasons, the primary one being that as an energy business it seemed to be a natural step for us to go into renewables.
“Adding other energies such as biomass and wind gives us a more balanced portfolio and of course with wind, there are financial incentives.” The company also belongs to a consortium operating a further 15 wind turbines which provide power to 25,000 homes.
All types of biomass are supplied – firewood, logs, kindling wood and wood chip delivery for which there will shortly be by a dedicated vehicle.
“Demand for renewables is certainly growing in this region and in many other areas around the UK and Ireland,” said Alan. “We have many customers who have already made the transition from oil to biomass.
“ I do feel that fossil fuels are under the cosh; we’ve not reached our carbon reduction targets – so the cosh will continue. I think diversity is the way forward.”www.djdaviesfuels.co.uk
The Humber refinery – Phillips 66 hopes to run similar events at its other terminals in the future
In late August, 40 haulier drivers and scheduling staff attended a Drivers’ Day event run by Phillips 66 at the company’s Immingham Pipeline Centre (IPC).
The aim of the event was to say thank you to all the drivers for their business, tell them about latest developments and also to ask for any suggestions on how the terminal could be improved. Invitations were extended to all retail, wholesale and specialty group customers that pull from IPC.
The idea for the event originated from a best practice that Ryan Ebright, specialty & business development manager, brought over from America.
“IPC is a key terminal for us and drivers play an important role in its success,” said Ryan. “We wanted to recognise this by holding an event to thank them for their ongoing commitment.”
A wide range of breakfast and lunch options were laid on from 5am through to 3pm by a team of staff from Phillips 66. As well as enjoying a hearty breakfast or lunch before hitting the road, attending drivers received JET and Phillips branded 66 giveaways and were automatically entered into a prize draw to win one of five AA winter car kits. www.phillips66.co.uk
Joanne Freeman (Brainwave), Sally Darlington (Essar Oil UK), Anthony La Mola (Brainwave) and Matthew James, with son Dylan, daughter Megan and wife Vicky
A significant safety milestone at the Essar Oil Uk Stanlow refinery has resulted in a £3000 donation to the Brainwave charity’s north west centre in Warrington.
Stanlow achieved five million hours without a lost time injury and through its Let’s Give programme, which links charitable giving to safety, made the contribution to Brainwave.
Brainwave works with children with a range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, Down’s syndrome, autism and developmental delay.
Matthew James, Stanlow’s operations maintenance co-ordinator who nominated the charity said: “After becoming frustrated and disappointed in the help available, having to constantly push and chase for services for our son Dylan, who has a severe global development delay, we stumbled upon Brainwave who were a breath of fresh air. We have been with Brainwave for three years now and Dylan has gone from strength to strength.”
Brainwave’s community fundraising manager Joanne Freeman was delighted to receive the funds from Essar, sending ‘a huge thanks to all the team.’www.essar.com
Brobot Petroleum, which operates 23 filling stations, has successfully appealed via the First Tier Tax Tribunal against HMRC’s imposition of unreasonable conditions to obtain an excise duty Deferment Account Number: Oil Products.
The case was prepared and presented by Alan Powell for Alan Powell Associates Ltd, a specialist excise duties consultancy.
“The case confirms that petrol retailers are entitled to defer excise duty on fuel delivered to them from bonded terminals with nil security,” explained Powell. Furthermore – and the crux of this matter – HMRC must grant such approval where the need to defer duty on fuel is demonstrated by the retailer.”
Powell explains that deferring the duty on fuel provides a number of significant benefits, which include (In this case):
Allan Davison operations director says Hoyer is pleased to award Goodyear this business – a company that has ‘built a reputation for improving the efficiency of fleets
Hoyer has chosen Goodyear as its new tyre and service provider following a competitive pan-European bidding process.
Following re-tendering their business to four premium manufacturers, Goodyear was selected after meeting Hoyer’s safety service and efficiency requirements. As a result the logistics provider will move away from its previous premium manufacturer, Michelin after 18 years.
Hoyer will now fit its 400 units and 780 trailers in the UK as well as another 4,000 trucks and trailers across Europe with KMax, FuelMax and Goodyear retreaded products.
“Goodyear has built a reputation for improving the efficiency of fleets and we are pleased to award them our business,” said Allan Davison, operations director of Hoyer Petrolog.
“The nature of our operation sees us transport hazardous materials day-in-day-out, therefore we need a product that is safe and reliable while delivering efficiency savings. We found this, tried and tested, in Goodyear’s KMax tyre.”
The Hoyer Group will also take advantage of Goodyear´s TruckForce tyre management programme, roadside assistance and FleetOnlineSolutions.
Allan Davison continues: “TruckForce are experts in their field. They catch issues, take preventative measures and solve problems to keep downtime to a minimum. The TruckForce infrastructure enables us to get the optimum performance and maximum life out of our tyres. When you put this all together this package will increase our efficiency as well as reducing our carbon footprint.”
Marc Preedy, Goodyear commercial director said: “This is another proud moment for Goodyear which continues the substantial growth we have seen in our business over the last 18 months. The new partnership with the Hoyer Group shows that our integrated package offers real tangible value to our customers.”www.goodyear.comwww.hoyer-group.com
Ribble Fuel Oils has entered its Magyar-built tanker for the title of Fuel Oil News 2015 tanker of the year.
Greenergy’s new intake of apprentices
Four teenagers have taken their first steps into the world of work by securing apprenticeships at Greenergy on Teesside.
“The young people we recruit today will be our future leaders, running our fuel terminals and manufacturing facilities in the years to come,” said Chris Platt, Greenergy North Tees terminal manager.
“We employ more than 100 skilled workers on Teesside alone, so there is plenty of scope for young people to train with us to gain the experience they need to develop their careers.
“As a company we take an active role in encouraging students to continue to study science, technology, engineering and maths because we know how important it is for our everyday operations. By encouraging the next generation of engineers we are building the foundation for a successful future both for the apprentices themselves and our operations.”
This year’s apprentices have already completed a City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Process Operations. Over the next two years they will combine a Level 3 programme of study with hands-on experience, spending most of their time on-site putting theory into practice with their mentors and building the experience they need for their technical qualifications.
Dave Thompson, partnerships manager at TTE Technical Training Group, said: “It’s great to have sponsors like Greenergy who understand the value and importance of apprenticeships. The potential for apprenticeships to lead not only to rewarding careers, but to exciting senior roles at fantastic companies, should never be overlooked when considering options post-16. Forward thinking businesses like Greenergy recognise this and help to create opportunities for young people.”
Maddie Byrne from Redcar and Tom Wallace from Guisborough are now both apprentice process technicians and Tom Berry an apprentice mechanical fitter, all three are based at Greenergy’s biodiesel manufacturing plant at Seal Sands. This follows the successful completion of past apprenticeships resulting in permanent roles for Peter Lindley and Elliot Longmore, who are now part of the engineering team at the site. In addition Cameron Walker from Stockton has started his process technician apprenticeship at the Greenergy North Tees Fuel Terminal, also at Seal Sands.www.greenergy.com
