Oil NRG has been listed in the London Stock Exchange Group’s 2017 list of the 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. The LSEG’s annual report celebrates some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Oil NRG is delighted to have been recognised in this year’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report,” said sales director Jeremy Royle.
“This is a significant achievement for Oil NRG – the only oil distributor to be included – and a testament to the outstanding hard work, experience and professionalism of our whole team.
“The recent development of our Yorkshire depot, and our winning a place on the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) solution for liquid fuels has also allowed us to demonstrate our capabilities to customers across the north east. This continued growth has undoubtedly played a part in us gaining recognition in LSEG’s annual list of inspirational companies. We will continue to build on this success and will ensure that our work for our customers delivers wider benefits to the local economy in terms of employment, supply chain and environmental factors.”
Oil NRG, which has depots in Teesside, Tyneside and Yorkshire, is one of 32 north east companies to have been included in the report.
“Four years on, LSEG’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report continues to highlight the dynamic, entrepreneurial and ambitious businesses across the country that are boosting UK productivity, driving economic growth and creating jobs, “ said Xavier Rolet, LSEG’s chief executive.
Congratulating the companies in this year’s report, Greg Clark, secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy added:
“Championing high growth innovative SMEs is crucial for the continued success of the UK economy and a country that works for everyone. We are committed to ensuring that companies of all sizes can access finance to grow, scale-up and create high quality well-paid jobs across the country.”
www.oilnrg.co.uk
Gina Hinde, Morris Lubricants’ new marketing manager
Looking forward to a fresh career challenge Gina Hinde has joined Shrewsbury-based Morris Lubricants as marketing manager.
The IPRA quality assurance scheme is the only motor fuel QA scheme in Ireland to have received trade mark certification
The Irish Petrol Retailers Association (IPRA) has recently confirmed that its Quality Assurance Scheme (QA) for petrol retailers has received trade mark certification.
“We’re delighted with this news,” said David Blevings, IPRA spokesperson.
“The IPRA quality assurance scheme is the only motor fuel QA scheme in Ireland to have received trade mark certification. The QA scheme will now be rolled out to stations across the country giving consumers the satisfaction in knowing that retailers displaying the blue and green Quality Assurance logo are part of an accredited scheme that includes initial entry and random testing to ensure fuel quality.”
The scheme was reviewed and approved by the Department of Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise and the Irish Patents Office.
The addition of the trade mark will increase consumer satisfaction in this area and encourage fuel suppliers to get on board so their consumers purchase with complete confidence.
“Fuel adulteration can take different forms and in recent years, the most common form of adulteration was to remove the dye from agricultural gasoil and sell this as road diesel,” said David.
“This caused damage to many car engines and resulted in large scale waste being dumped at the roadside from the industrial process used. Many innocent consumers were caught out and were victims of this fuel adulteration scandal with many having to pay thousands of euros for car engine repairs. The introduction of a new marker by Revenue has reduced this problem but fuel adulteration can still be an issue with ‘designer’ fuels now being found in the UK and Ireland”, claims David.
Welcoming the news Paul Turner, head of legal metrology at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) said:
“NSAI is responsible for ensuring that fuel pumps dispense the correct amount of fuel when a customer fills their vehicle at a retail station. We do this through the authorised verifier’s scheme. We welcome the news that the IPRA QA scheme has received trade mark verification and support any initiative that gives consumers assurance on fuel quality. Together NSAI and IPRA can provide your customers with the confidence they need.”
“The message to consumers is clear – make sure you are using a retailer who is part of a Quality Assurance Scheme. Look for the blue and green Quality Assurance logo on the pump before you refill.
“The IPRA scheme has achieved trade mark certification and the backing of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, Small Firms Association and the Irish Road Haulage Association.
“Consumers looking to locate their nearest retailer taking part in the IPRA QA scheme can search our retailer map on www.ipra.ie,” added David.
In acquiring the DONG Oil & Gas business for a headline price of $1.05 billion plus $250m contingent will position INEOS as a top 10 company and the biggest private enterprise operating in the North Sea.
“DONG Energy’s oil & gas business is a natural fit for INEOS as we continue to grow our upstream activities,” said Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS chairman.
“We are pleased to acquire this competitive, well-run business, with its highly successful and experienced team, a strong portfolio of long life assets and a very good mix of existing production and developments across the North Sea.
“This business is very important to us at this stage of our growth plans and we are delighted with the expertise that comes with it. We have been successful in our petro-chemical businesses, focusing on operating our assets safely, efficiently and reliably and we intend to do the same with our oil & gas assets. We are keen on further growth and already see lots of opportunity within this impressive portfolio when it transfers to INEOS.”
On completion, the Business will bring a full complement of highly experienced oil & gas personnel, with 440 staff transferring to INEOS. The business being acquired has a strong portfolio of long life assets, producing 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2016 and with around 570 million boe of commercial and potential oil & gas reserves across the Danish, Norwegian and UK continental shelves.
This transaction will enable INEOS to significantly expand its trading and shipping activities making it a major trader in the sector.
INEOS has much to offer this business, bringing its proven track record in operating complex assets of this nature to further maximise the economic recovery of the hydrocarbons in the acquired portfolio. With a long term view and wide-spread industrial integration, INEOS is ideally placed to extend the lifespan of these assets and invest in the major oil & gas development opportunities that accompany this portfolio.
The DONG Oil & Gas business is a natural fit for INEOS, further strengthening its long-term upstream activity, which was founded on the acquisition of both DEA’s and Fairfield’s UK portfolios in 2015 and more recently the Forties Pipeline System from BP.
The acquisition and transfer of ownership is targeted to complete within Q3 2017, subject to the receipt of regulatory and other third party approvals.
The Business will be acquired by the INEOS Industries business division.
www.ineos.com/
Last week Puma Energy, the global integrated midstream and downstream energy company, released its results for the first quarter of 2017.
“I am pleased to report that, despite facing headwinds in certain regions, we have had a steady start to the year, with a 3% increase in sales volume this quarter (compared to Q1 2016) and a gross profit of $407 million,” said CFO Denis Chazarain.
Key highlights
A gas fuel tank on an Abbey trial vehicle
Abbey Logistics is now working with CNG Fuels to run trials on new CNG vehicles. The trucks from Iveco and Scania will be put through their paces in a two-month trial, operating on the same routes carrying the same loads as their diesel counterparts to give us a clear picture of how they are performing.
Having trialled many gas-powered vehicles in the past, including dual fuel, LPG, LNG, CNG and many more, trials have usually shown the same results; promising technology, easy to maintain, zero emissions and reduced fuel costs.
However for a company like Abbey Logistics, which counts every penny of its fleet costs, and rely on the flexibility of our network; the vehicles have always been too expensive to buy and their mileage range has always been too low to be a viable alternative to diesel.
But now with the extended range available on gas-powered vehicles with compressed natural gas, Abbey Logistics’ fleet engineer David Batty is asking if this could be a realistic alternative to diesel power?
“One of my most important roles at Abbey Logistics is to analyse and trial new vehicles and associated technology,” said David.
“Innovative new technology from Scania and Iveco means that LNG and CNG can now be used in vehicles that can achieve almost the same miles per tank as their diesel equivalents.
“Drivers involved in the trial will be trained to use the new refuelling pumps, which use a traffic light system that tells the driver when fuelling is complete and it takes no longer than filling up a diesel tank. Refuelling is also inherently safe and clean due to zero spillage and the driver doesn’t need to stand next to the vehicle during the process.
“While the latest CNG developments are exciting, we’re reserving judgement until a full evaluation of the gas-powered vehicles is complete.”www.abbeylogisticsgroup.com
Following the release of the latest comparative average heating price figures from Sutherland Tables, OFTEC reports good news for most oil heating users in the UK.
Detailed below, the figures show the three months up to the end of April. Over this quarter the cost of kerosene has decreased slightly for most areas, ranging from 1 – 3%. The exceptions are Scotland and Northern Ireland where costs have risen by approximately 2% and 5% respectively.
Regional variations can be quite significant and prices are usually highest in Scotland where transport costs are a bigger factor.
The best news comes from the Republic of Ireland where the average cost of home heating using oil has decreased by almost 8% compared to last quarter, which is excellent news for homeowners and oil heating businesses alike.
Homeowners with other types of heating have not all been so lucky. Over the last quarter, the biggest heating cost losers have been consumers of LPG and electricity in all UK regions. In Great Britain, consumers of LPG have experienced a price increase of approximately 5%, while in Northern Ireland LPG costs have risen by almost 8%. In Republic of Ireland, the cost of using LPG has remained static.
Consumers using electric heating in Great Britain have also seen an increase in costs, whereas in Northern and Southern Ireland prices have remained static. The natural gas price has remained static except in Northern Ireland where it has increased by over 2%.
Comparative space and water heating costs for a three bedroom house
Figures supplied by Sutherland Tables
Great Britain
Asset protection and oil and environmental services specialist, Adler & Allan, is celebrating after being shortlisted for the 2017 Responsible Business Awards
Last month Adler & Allan was shortlisted in the 2017 Responsible Business Awards, the UK’s longest running and most prestigious awards programme champions responsible business in the UK and abroad.
(l-r) Sally Darlington, health and safety advisor at Essar Stanlow with John Wilson of the Liverpool Seafarers Centre and Mark Thompson, Essar’s marine manager at Stanlow
Essar’s Stanlow refinery recently achieved 7 million hours without a lost time injury; a milestone recognised by Essar’s Let’s Give programme which links safety milestones and charitable giving.
The refinery has also achieved a record breaking safety target of three million hours without a recordable injury; a first in the site’s 60 year history.
Among the local charities benefitting from the programme were Wirral Heart Beat and the Seafarers Centre in Crosby, Liverpool with both receiving a £3,000 donation.
Marine manager Mark Thompson who nominated the Seafarers Centre, said: “I have worked at sea for most of my career, and now alongside those who do. I have seen the benefit of Seafarers Centres all over the world, and the great service that is offered to those who visit. Many of the seafarers from our cargo deliveries at Stanlow and Tranmere use the Liverpool services, and it is fantastic to be able to provide some financial support to keep the service going.”
Technician operator Paul Nelson selected Wirral Heart Beat. “I was put in contact with Wirral Heart Beat following a heart operation sixteen years ago. At a time when I was feeling vulnerable and worried, the support and facilities offered at the Heswall facility were a real practical support for my rehabilitation and improving health.”
The charities were very appreciative of the support received.
John Wilson, chief executive at the Liverpool Seafarers Centre, which is to buy a pool table, furnishings, computer and wi-fi, said:
“We’re a charity operating a frontline service to provide practical and emotional support for seafarers, the often invisible workforce on whom we all depend to ship 95% of UK trade.
Ian Carson, chairman of Wirral Heart Beat, which is investing in new equipment for its outreach gyms, commented:
“Our charity was first registered in 1991 by a group of local people who had experienced heart attacks or had heart related problems. We depend entirely on volunteers to run the centres, which are all based at fire stations across the Wirral.”www.essaroil.co.uk
The Thun Grace will transport marine gas oil from oil refineries to fuel storage tanks in the Geos Group’s six physical supply locations
Marine gas oil supplier, the Geos Group (Sea Bunkering) has taken delivery of a new vessel, the Thun Grace, on long-term time charter from Thun Tankers.
The Thun Grace is significantly larger than the Geos Group’s outgoing vessel, the Milford Fisher, which means that the company will now have extra capacity to grow its sales volume and provide a faster, more responsive service to its customers.
Built in 1999, the Thun Grace is a highly efficient 6,535mt DWT, 103m x 15m chemical tanker, with an experienced and professional crew on board. She will shortly be equipped for ship-to-ship operations – a fast and flexible fuelling solution for operators when a ship’s port access is restricted, or when there are no fuel facilities available within a port.
The vessel will transport marine gas oil from oil refineries to fuel storage tanks in the Geos Group’s six physical supply locations: Aberdeen, Blyth, Great Yarmouth, Lerwick, Heysham and Montrose. It will also transport fuel between these sites, in order to meet demand and avoid stock shortages.
“Increasing the size of our vessel is an important strategic move for the Geos Group”, said Adam Russell, trading and hedging manager.
“We will have more flexibility in our programme, and greater capacity for transporting fuel between locations. We will be able to increase our volume and offer a more competitive bunkering service to the ship owners and operators that we supply. We are happy to be working with Thun Tankers as our business grows and more opportunities present themselves”.http://www.geosgroup.com
