In 2025, the site delivered its highest-ever domestic sales since its acquisition by Essar Energy Transition (EET) in 2011.
The growth seen in 2025 follows a sustained programme of investment and highlights the continued strong UK demand for refined products and the essential role of the refining sector. In a year of significant change in the UK supply chain, EET further reinforced its position as a cornerstone of UK energy security.
2025: A landmark year for domestic supply
The record year was achieved despite the complexities of a major infrastructure transition as EET successfully leveraged its extensive supply infrastructure to grow market share and deliver value to its customers.
Operational throughput has seen a significant uptick, with volumes up 8% compared to 2024. This growth is most visible at the refinery gantry, where dispatch volumes are now approaching all-time record highs. For distributors, this translated into increased availability, faster turnaround times, and greater supply reliability during periods of peak demand.
Strategic growth across retail and aviation
Alongside refinery performance, 2025 also saw strategic expansion across downstream and specialist supply channels which saw the record performance in 2025 bolstered by growth across all business units:
- Retail: The retail forecourt business continues to scale rapidly, with the number of sites now up to 58. In addition to the branded sites, EET is also delivering fuel to more than 100 dealer-owned forecourts in the UK. A targeted “price drop” campaign launched towards the end of 2025 drove strong consumer demand across company-leased, dealer-operated sites.
- Aviation: Following a significant expansion of its airport network, EET now directly supplies fuel to 10 major UK airports.
- Supply resilience: Beyond Stanlow, the company has bolstered UK fuel security with strategic supply points at Kingsbury, Northampton, Grangemouth, Oikos, and Grays. Following the closure of two of the UK’s six refineries in 2025, this distribution network proved vital to Essar’s ability to deliver an immediate response to urgent supply requests from the rail, bus, and commercial transport sectors.
Delivering a low carbon future
A $100 million investment, one of the largest and most complex in Stanlow’s history, transformed the refinery. As part of a wider $350m programme of improvement projects, the investment transformed the site, supporting both near-term performance and long-term competitiveness in a lower-carbon energy system. Delivering an increase in throughput capability of around 8%, the refinery turnaround saw the installation of the UK’s first hydrogen-ready furnace – a critical step in the refinery’s decarbonisation journey.
Legislation “vital to long-term security of domestic refining”
2025 demand underlines the essential role of a competitive domestic refining sector in maintaining UK fuel security. To deliver a level playing field and industry stability, EET continues to advocate for the inclusion of refining in the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to protect the UK from high-carbon imports.
Deepak Maheshwari, CEO of EET Fuels, commented: “I am delighted with the performance of Stanlow in 2025. This record-breaking year is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who successfully navigated a major turnaround and delivered our best-ever domestic sales figures.
Thanking customers for their support, Deepak notes that Stanlow “has been fuelling the UK for over 100 years” and suggests that last year’s record performance demonstrates the site’s critical importance to the wider UK economy.
“We are investing to ensure Stanlow is well-placed for a long-term sustainable future and, to secure this future, it is vital that the UK domestic refining sector remains competitive. This underscores the urgent need for refining to be included in CBAM, ensuring a level playing field when it comes to competing with high carbon imported fuels.”
Image provided by Essar Energy Transition