Adrian Proctor (l) and Barry Newton at the Geos Group’s terminal in the Port of Blyth
Fuel Oil News recently visited the Port of Blyth to see the Geos Group’s terminal first hand. Specialists in marine gas oil supply and distribution, the group is now the largest independent marine fuel supplier in the UK
Keen to learn more about the company’s Sea Bunkering’s trading origins, and to discover what prompted the move into a physical fuel supply, editor Jane Raphael met with managing director Barry Newton and commercial director Adrian Proctor, both based at the company’s Henley-on-Thames head office.
Barry, who had previously worked with Phillips 66, joined Sea Bunkering in the city of Hull back in the 1990s with the emphasis firmly on oil trading.
“In those pre-internet days selling marine fuel literally meant driving to the port to ask if anyone needed it! Whilst our fuel supply was then sourced through a network of physical suppliers,” explained Barry.
“The biggest change to this market has been the internet which moved the industry from local to global – going into physical storage was an opportunity that we just had to take.”
The Blyth terminal – wholly-owned by the Geos Group – was opened in 2015 in a port which had previously been without any fuel provision. The project was led and managed by Liz Winship who now works alongside the terminal’s operations manager, Norman Donaldson and three operatives.
“From a strategic point of view, it is best that we control our own fuel stocks,” explained Adrian.
“Having a physical footprint gives us far better flexibility to meet customer demand and to be much more proactive on sales. Additionally, many of our customers work in environments where fuel is needed very quickly, particularly if another energy source fails.”
Varun is looking forward to working with colleagues old and new as Greenergy expands its low-cost/high service offer to marine fuel customers
Varun Chhabria has joined Greenergy as group head of marine fuels. Joining from Certas Energy, Varun is already well-known within Greenergy, having previously worked at Inver Energy.
As the UK’s largest fuel supplier, Greenergy has made significant infrastructure investments in order to import and supply its own fuel products. The company now intends to leverage these infrastructure capabilities to support marine customers.
Changes to marine fuel specifications in 2020 are making marine fuels more similar to the road fuels that we currently supply,” explained Andrew Owens, Greenergy chief executive.
“We therefore intend to build on our existing distillate supply chains to blend, store and supply marine fuels, both in the UK and further afield. Varun brings a wealth of experience to this project and we welcome him to the team.”
“The combination of Greenergy’s scale in the UK and its international expansion make this an exciting time to be joining the company,” added Varun.
“The company has strength and depth across its business and I look forward to working with colleagues old and new as we expand Greenergy’s low-cost/high service offer to marine fuel customers.”www.greenergy.com
Commercial director Jonathan Davies beside the new vehicles which have been named Glyndwr and Dai after former members of staff
Joining a fleet of 15 trucks, Ammanford-based DJ Davies Fuels has acquired its first Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit and a 3.5-tonne FUSO Canter from Euro Commercials.
Operating from a strategically located network of depots throughout South Wales, DJ Davies not only supplies domestic heating oil, industrial, commercial and agricultural fuel oils, but also premium solid fuels, including smokeless coal, multi-fuel briquettes and firewood logs.
The Canter is now undertaking local deliveries from Lampeter – and offers a nationwide solid fuel delivery service to retail customers via fuels4u.com.
The tractor unit is busy undertaking work for the Fuel Express consortium which specialises in the distribution of a pre-packed domestic fuel, barbecue charcoal, gas and ancillary products to national and independent forecourts and convenience stores. Recent expansion has seen DJ Davies not only covering Wales for Fuel Express, but also now having additional responsibility for south west England.
Commercial director Jonathan Davies whose grandfather Denzil founded the business in 1971, said:
“Both new trucks are named after former employees. The Actros is ‘Glyndwr’, in honour of Glyndwr Williams, a lorry enthusiast who worked for the company as a driver’s helper for more than 30 years, before retiring due to ill health in 2017.
The Canter is named after Dai Collins, who passed away in 2014 after losing his battle with cancer – Mr Collins had spent his working life at the Swansea branch which DJ Davies acquired 10 years ago.
“Glyndwr and Dai were both very popular with colleagues and these expressions of recognition for former members of staff have been very well received by those with whom they worked. Glyndwr is delighted to see his name on the Actros, and Dai’s family have thanked us for the gesture.”www.djdaviesfuels.co.uk
Credit: MrJub
With mid-October witnessing the first Green GB Week to promote action on climate change, OFTEC has received further evidence that its work to develop a low carbon liquid fuel to replace kerosene could provide the answer to reducing carbon emissions from heating rural homes.
Earlier this year, OFTEC commissioned a series of independent reports into the viability of liquid biofuels to meet the future needs of the 2.2 million homes across the UK and Republic of Ireland which currently rely on oil. The initial findings offer positive reading.
The reports outline the growing demand for biofuels from the UK and EU and the willingness of major suppliers to meet this, as well as their interest in new markets such as domestic heating.
Biodiesel from waste blends, primarily Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME) and Tallow Methyl Ester (TME), would provide the most likely solution in the short term, moving to blends from other waste streams in the medium to longer term.
The reports recognise current concerns over sustainability of supply but suggest that this will be addressed as the biofuel market develops further and demand grows, technologies advance and other sources of raw material become more readily available.
Speaking during Green GB Week, OFTEC CEO Paul Rose said:
“We firmly believe the answer lies in biofuels and these latest reports add further credence to our thinking. The IPCC report starkly outlines the urgent need to ramp up action on climate change now. We are continuing our calls to government to support our work in transferring oil heated homes to a low carbon future in the most cost-effective way and will continue to channel our resources into making this happen.
“A liquid biofuel would offer these households an almost drop-in replacement for kerosene. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy alongside wider industry, to ensure that oil heated homes are provided with the right, future proof low carbon solution for their needs.”www.oftec.org
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Brian Worrall, the new UPEI president looks forward to ‘engaging more deeply on the role that independent fuel suppliers can play in the energy transition’
At its general meeting held in Bonn on 18-19 October, the UPEI membership elected Brian Worrall as president of the presiding board, taking over from acting president Thierry De Meulder.
Director of corporate affairs for DCC/Certas Energy UK, Brian Worrall has held the office of vice president of UPEI since January 2018 with Mathias Ploetzke (MEW – Mittelständische Energiewirtschaft Deutschland) elected to Brian’s former position.
“I am delighted to take up the position of UPEI president and thank the membership for its confidence and support in this respect,” said Brian.
“I look forward to taking UPEI forward and engaging more deeply on the role that independent fuel suppliers can play in the energy transition, as well as the potential and benefits of liquid fuels in this context.
“I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors Thomas Johannsen and Thierry De Meulder and thank them for their commitment and hard work.”
Tim Doggett – ‘looking forward to exciting times ahead and to reaching our next fuel logistics landmark’
Clugston Distribution, which has recently hit the landmark figure of distributing over two billion litres of fuel, is on target to deliver another record result this year with the delivery of over 407 million litres of fuel; the highest figure since the company expanded into bulk fuel distribution in 2012.
The company’s dedicated bulk fuel logistics fleet now consists of 18 vehicles, 20 trailers, 32 drivers and two planners serving an ever-growing number of fuel customers with increasing demand from three strategic locations in Billingham in the north east, Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire and Upper Broughton in the East Midlands, with customers ranging from supermarkets, ship operators and vehicle manufacturers through to independent petrol stations and fuel suppliers across the UK and Europe.
“Since 2012, the bulk fuel sector has been an area we have excelled in,” said distribution director, Tim Doggett,
“The close proximity of our main distribution hub in Scunthorpe to the Immingham refineries is the ideal platform to further grow the fuel side of the business. Our expertise in delivering quality and timely logistics services to our customers has ensured steady progression and sustained growth.
“2018 has also seen us invest across the business, including the expansion of our international services with the introduction of new routes and capabilities across road, air and sea which further complements and adds to our well-established bulk fuel, powder and general distribution logistics services.”www.clugston.co.uk/logistics/
“Expansion of our involvement in aviation fuel supply is an important strategic step for Petrolog,” said Mark Binns, director of the business unit Petrolog. Credit: AlexeyPetrov
“We are very pleased to be able to add new business that further extends our relationship with long-standing customers,” said Mark Binns, director of the business unit Petrolog.
In the UK HOYER is reporting positive business developments through the signing of new contracts with Air BP and WFS (World Fuel Services) with TOTAL Deutschland GmbH in Germany, and Valero Energy at Dublin airport.
This year Petrolog was awarded a contract with Air BP for fuel deliveries to 96 airports throughout the UK with HOYER undertaking the whole of Air BP’s delivery logistics, including monitoring of stocks, generating and receiving orders, and delivery.WFS (World Fuel Services) has signed a three-year contract to supply four airports across the north of the UK.
HOYER has been responsible for deliveries to service station networks of BP and TOTAL for many years, and WFS more recently.
Since late August Petrolog has also been supplying aviation fuel on a daily basis to Berlin’s Tegel airport on behalf of TOTAL Deutschland GmbH.
The HOYER Group’s business unit Chemilog also helps to ensure smooth air traffic. During the winter months, the unit not only supplies several airports with de-icing agents for runways, but the division also covers almost the entire Europe-wide logistics for a leading manufacturer of aircraft de-icing agents. Due to the unpredictable and often short-term demand, HOYER offers a 24/7 on-call service and thus guarantees delivery times within a few hours.www.hoyer-group.com
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