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One of the leading fuel distribution companies in Ireland, and parent company of Certas Energy, DCC, has agreed to buy Jones Oil for an undisclosed sum.
Trading in Ireland under the Emo brand, DCC’s Energy division notified the transaction to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) on Friday 30th April. Currently in the preliminary investigation phase, third party submissions can be made until May 18.
Jones Oil, founded in 1984 as Jones Distribution, is an entirely Irish-owned company, headquartered in Dublin. It supplies homeheating oil and commercial fuels to the agricultural, commercial, industrial and marine sectors from 15 depots in the East, Midlands and North-West of the country.
Pat Nevin, who has held the position of CEO of Jones Oil for over 20 years, was instrumental in restructuring the business as an oil distributorship. For years the company was one of the largest Esso distributors in Ireland and covered the Midlands and North of the Republic with Suttons (covering the South/South West) and Three Rivers (covering the South East). In 2007, Pat Nevin oversaw the acquisition of Three Rivers.
With a fleet of 45 tankers and 150 staff members, Jones Oil had Euro 138 million in turnover in 2019 – an increase of 13.5pc compared to 2018.
DCC, a diversified holdings company specialising in distribution and marketing, is one of the biggest Irish companies by value (£6.25bn) and is a member of the FTSE 100 index of large companies.
The company has spent £3.3bn on 280 bolt-on acquisitions in the last 26 years since the company floated on the stock market and two-thirds of its profit growth comes from its mergers and acquisitions activity. Fuel distribution accounts for three quarters of DCC’s profits, with the remainder coming from healthcare and technology divisions.
The blockage of the Suez Canal by the Taiwanese mega vessel MV Ever Given (20,000 Containers / 80,000 Horsepower) tells us a number of things. Firstly, that ship owners who pay for the “privilege” of using Suez Canal navigational pilots should probably ask for a refund.
Ben is excited to announce that Ben Ball is back this year and will be held at the iconic venue, the Roundhouse in Camden, London, on 8th December.
Luc Smets has been appointed general manager of the Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery at North Killingholme, bringing with him more than three decades of experience in the petrochemical industry, with 23 of those years spent with ExxonMobil.
British astronaut Major Tim Peake CMG leads an impressive line-up of inspirational speakers for Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference which will be held alongside the inaugural Information & Technology in Transport (ITT) Hub exhibition this summer. Major Peake will take to the stage alongside 23 of the industry’s most-respected leaders in sessions designed to provoke debate on the technology and ideas set to revolutionise the transport and logistics sectors in the coming years.
To be held at the world-famous Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre, Logistics UK’s free, two-day Future Logistics conference, taking place on 30 June 2021 and 1 July 2021, will examine the issues set to challenge the logistics industry of the future such as how to accommodate environmental targets, harness new data and technologies, and tackle the growing skills shortage. Topics on the agenda include future vehicles and fuels, the power of data, attracting and retaining talent, funding strategies, and effective business models for the future.
Elizabeth de Jong, policy director at Logistics UK comments: “The logistics industry is evolving at a rapid rate, with new technologies set to transform the landscape of logistics as we move towards our net zero emissions future. The Future Logistics conference will provide an invaluable opportunity to discover and debate the influences which will shape the logistics world of tomorrow, all at a safe, COVID-19 compliant venue. With an industry-wide view and decades of expertise, Logistics UK is positioned perfectly to bring together some of the most respected, influential and innovative experts in the industry to map out the future of logistics; the conference promises to be an unmissable event.”
In addition to a session by Major Peake delegates will enjoy sessions led by representatives from businesses including Highways England, Renault Trucks UK & Ireland, National Grid, DHL Supply Chain, UPS, Volta Trucks, and the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
As well as an extensive exhibition featuring the latest developments in logistics and passenger transport, ITT Hub will also provide an outdoor vehicle display area and a unique series of “ride and drive” experiences, to give attendees the chance to try the very latest in vehicle technology for themselves. Click here for further information about the conference programme at the Future Logistics Conference, and to register for a free place, which will also provide access to ITT Hub.
Watson Fuels has recently announced that customers can now purchase Carbon Offset Fuel from the company. A proportion of the price paid for fuel will go towards projects that compensate for the carbon impact of the fuel being used.
The company has stated that it only purchases carbon offsets from projects that have been independently verified against international standards, providing a robust methodology and registry process that ensures emission reductions are real, additional, permanent and unique.
The offsets are currently being procured from a range of solar and wind projects across India through Watson Fuels’ sister company World Kinect Energy Services, with all projects meeting the Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The offsets represent reduction happening in the last five years and support UN Sustainable Development goals 7 and 13.
As part of the combustion process, all liquid fuels release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. CO2E (CO2 equivalent) is a metric used to convert the net impact of these gases into an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide with the same global warming potential. All liquid fuels have a CO2E conversion factor. Buying fuel from Watson Fuels means that a proportion of the price paid for fuel goes towards projects that compensate for the carbon impact of the fuel used.
“We were pleased to launch our Carbon Offset Fuel offering to customers this April,” comments Ian Probert, marketing director. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to leverage the expertise, scale and buying power of our colleagues at World Kinect Energy Services, who have decades of experience in both the carbon markets and the sustainability space.”
Any distributors looking to purchase carbon offsets through World Fuel Services, are invited to call the wholesale fuel desk on 0207 808 5137.
From what was once a traditionally male dominated industry, greater diversity is being seen every day within distribution companies, suppliers and trade bodies. We spoke with Emily Yates, who joined Craggs Energy in 2015, about her role as a young, female fuel oil distributor.
Fresh blood
I joined the Craggs’ new apprenticeship scheme in 2015, called ‘Craggs Academy’ which was created to entice young people to learn about the industry and join the fuels sales world. This worked brilliantly, as myself and two others that joined the academy are still working for Craggs Energy to this day.
After completing the apprenticeship, Craggs offered me a full-time position in the customer service department, a role which I filled for around two years, before moving into a domestic and agriculture sales role. Around the same time, I started making fuel deliveries in the evenings and weekends in our 4×4.
A new challenge
Prior to joining Craggs, I went to college, completed a qualification in childcare, learning and development and, during this time, I worked in schools and nurseries in Calderdale. I quickly fancied a change in career and saw the apprenticeship advertised. I knew I wanted to learn something completely new and challenge myself with something very different to what I had been doing.
Craggs Energy not only gave me that challenge but helped massively with self-confidence. I’ve come on leaps and bounds since joining the company and have not looked back since. Talking to customers over the phone and face to face on fuel deliveries has helped in a big way.
I love the fact that I can be in the office selling fuel and lubricants during the day and, once the office is closed, I am out and about meeting customers face to face whilst delivering their fuel. I cover the whole of our deliverable area in the 4×4 for emergency run outs and hard to access properties. I love going to new places and meeting new people too.
Settling in
I settled in quickly to what has previously been a male dominated industry. I had a lot of support from my managers at Craggs, including our CEO Chris Bingham – he has really helped me get to where I am today, and I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for me over the years. When I first wanted to make fuel deliveries, I went to Chris with the idea and he was over the moon. Chris, alongside other managers, helped to make it happen.
Although I have been making deliveries for almost four years now, a lot of people are still surprised when they see me turn up with their fuel. The majority are happy to see a woman working hard and getting the job done, just as well as anybody else could. I believe there is no reason or barriers to prevent women joining the operations side of this industry and making deliveries. From a Landrover to a ridged, to an artic, why not? It would be brilliant to see a lot more women doing these roles.
Looking ahead
Now, I am extremely keen to get my HGV and ADR licence to be able to deliver on tankers as well as the 4×4. I have just recently moved job roles from a sales role to becoming part of the transport team and helping out with operations. I am more than willing to better my skills in a wide range of job roles with Craggs Energy.
In our April ‘branding and marketing’ print issue, we considered how companies in the sector have adapted and evolved their communication styles and branding in response to market developments, the energy transition and, more recently, Covid-19. Here, Mark Todd, wholesale business manager for Phillips 66 Limited, speaks in depth with content editor Stephanie Samuel about the brand position and values of Phillips 66 and JET and explains how, for them, with clear communication being more important than ever, consistency is key.
The supplier of choice
Phillips 66 continues to reinforce its retail position in the UK with its new JET branding being rolled out across its 300+ sites nationwide and the hugely popular ‘Keep On Moving’ TV campaign due to be back on our screens at the end of May.
As the industry continues to diversify many retail sites are following suit and reinventing themselves beyond the traditional fuels offering. The recent reopening of JET’s New North Road station in Ilford is a prime example of a forecourt and retail transformation.
Owned and managed by Janu Patel for the past 20 years, the ambitious makeover has been driven by Kayur, Janu’s son – who has joined his father in running the business.
The new-look forecourt demands attention with JETs iconic colour palette of yellow, blue and grey. The canopy, complete with a silver-grey fascia, includes distinctive yellow LED lighting that as well as improving visibility also facilitates greater levels of safety. Every element of the new branding has been designed to be welcoming and friendly – to deliver a first-rate forecourt experience.
“This transformation is extremely impressive,” says Chris Murphy, retail account manager, Phillips 66 Limited “and it’s testament to Janu and Kayur’s belief in the business and their ambitions for its future. At JET we have enjoyed a 20-year partnership with New North Road that continues to go from strength to strength and we couldn’t be happier that the new-look forecourt has been received so positively.”
Commenting on the makeover Kayur Patel says: “My father has been serving the community for the past 20 years – and this investment in the business is a big commitment for us as a family. I was recently asked for any significant stand-out moments in the last 20 years and this is it, 2021 is the standout year. We have a great relationship with JET and the new branding is fresh and modern – and really stands out. We look forward to 20 more years”.
A leading campaign group is launching an industry-wide survey to discover the ‘State of the Hydrogen Nation’ ahead of the expected publication of the UK’s Hydrogen Strategy in June.
Members of the cross-industry Hydrogen Strategy Now (HSN) group, which combined employ more than 100,000 people and have a value of £100bn in the UK, stand ready to invest up to £3bn in hydrogen projects and create thousands of jobs across the country.
The group is launching a survey to find out the true scale of the sector that already exists in the UK – and to highlight the untapped potential that could be boosted by the introduction of an ambitious hydrogen strategy from the Government.
The HSN campaign is encouraging as many organisations as possible with links to hydrogen to get involved – whether they are HSN members or not.
A spokesperson for the campaign said: “Today, industry stands ready to invest, create lots of high-quality jobs and deliver net zero gains, and we’re keen to demonstrate this via our survey.
“We’re hoping for a high response rate so we can showcase the true potential of the sector and the scale of its economic, job creation and environmental ambitions.
“As a collective, the Hydrogen Strategy Now group believes the UK has what it takes to become a global leader in low-carbon hydrogen technology, but we must move fast to realise this opportunity and achieve the maximum economic benefit.
“Hydrogen will play an essential role in the world’s future, low-carbon economy – and with the government setting even more ambitious climate change targets, now is the perfect time to unlock the UK’s hydrogen potential.”
The group was established last year to call for the government to make a serious commitment to invest in hydrogen technologies and to publish a clear, strategic plan for hydrogen to unlock significant private funding.
They HSN collective, which has 60 members and support from 67 cross-party peers and MPs, believes a UK-wide hydrogen economy will:
Essar Oil UK, the owner of the Stanlow Refinery, reports that it has successfully addressed the required financing to replace the previous receivables facility.
The refinery continues to operate as normal, with uninterrupted supply of products to meet the needs of our customers. Demand for the refinery’s products continues to strengthen alongside the easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK.
This is further demonstrated by the significant increase of products being sold at the refinery, which is now generating positive EBITDA in the region of US$40 million for the second calendar quarter of 2021 (which compares to negative US$18 million in the corresponding quarter of 2020). The company will also benefit further from the anticipated recovery in aviation fuel demand in the coming months.
After the disruption caused by the pandemic, the company is continuing with its plans to strengthen its balance sheet and is therefore expecting to conclude a further financing by the end of June 2021. The company is confident that this further financing will be concluded swiftly, based on the proposals it has received. The company will also deliver operational cost reduction initiatives during the year to further improve the position.
A spokesperson for Essar said: “We are delighted to report on the positive developments at the refinery. We are grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from our customers, suppliers and the Government through the last year. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with high-value products and progressing our post-carbon transformation plans.”
One of the UK’s leading bulk liquid storage specialists, Liverpool-headquartered UM Terminals, has appointed an experienced commercial director.
Vic Brodrick takes up his new role on May 1 having previously worked as a consultant with responsibility for sales strategy.
Vic has an extensive background working in senior roles in the oil, aviation and shipping and logistics sectors including spells with Essar Oil, Peel Ports and Peel Airports.
UM Terminals recently put in place a new strategic growth plan to build on the substantial investment the business has made into upgrading its facilities and operations.
UM Terminals operates out of 8 terminals, strategically located across the UK, handling over 40 different products.
It currently has a capacity of over 300,000 cubic metres of bulk liquid storage, but the plan is to grow this to over 400,000 cubic metres.
Product solutions include vegetable oils, industrial, food and feed, chemical, fertiliser, fuels, biofuels and base oils.
Vic said: “I am delighted to be joining UM Terminals as commercial director. The business is at an exciting stage with an ambitious strategic growth plan. I have also been hugely impressed by the culture, customer-centric approach and can-do attitude of the company since I first joined as a consultant in November 2019.”
Bryan Davies, managing director of UM Terminals, said: “Vic’s appointment is an important one for our business and I look forward to continuing to work with him to create and develop a range of exciting customer partnerships.
“Our strategic plan includes maximising our UK capability, harnessing the assets of the wider UM Group and looking for potential acquisition targets that are a good fit.”
The company, which employs 63 people, rebranded from UM Storage to UM Terminals last year to better reflect the range of services the company offers its clients. It is part of the UM Group which has a distinguished history stretching back almost 100 years.
A significant safety milestone at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex has seen a £3,000 donation made to Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) charity, Families United (Warrington).
UKIFDA has revealed the sponsor for the first day of the two-day Future Fuels conference on 7-8 July as insurance broker Aon, and for the second day of the conference, Cobo Tankers and Services Ltd.
Long standing supporters of UKIFDA EXPO, Aon and Cobo Tankers and Services Ltd will sponsor this year’s inaugural virtual conference – and join headline sponsor Phillips 66 Ltd as supporters of this annual event, which is this year, celebrating its 40th anniversary.
UKIFDA chief executive, Ken Cronin says: “This year’s EXPO promises to be just as positive and rewarding for those involved as all our previous events have been and we’re hugely excited that this will be our first virtual EXPO in its 40-year history.
“Given all that we are doing as an industry to contribute to the Government’s net zero target, we wanted to ensure the opportunity that EXPO presents for exhibitors, Members and delegates to discuss and showcase the transition to renewable liquid fuels, went ahead this year.”
UKIFDA made the decision back in January to make this year’s exhibition virtual for the first time in order to enable everyone to attend and participate in the two days’ programmes in the safest possible way without any Covid-related restrictions or worries.
John Jenkins, Aon says: “It is fantastic to be sponsoring the opening day of the first ever virtual UKIFDA EXPO as Aon. Having been involved in so many of the previous EXPOs over the years as both The John Reynolds Group and Henderson Insurance Brokers, it’s wonderful that as our first year fully integrated into Aon that we are able to support the Future Fuels conference in its new online format.
“We know that exhibitors and visitors will enjoy the virtual experience and get so much from it as it really is the industry’s key event and provides the chance to discuss important issues and connect with others from across the sector.”
Fernando Gomis, Cobo Tankers and Services UK Ltd says: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring day two of the first ever virtual UKIFDA EXPO. It’s such welcome news UKIFDA found a way to make it safe for the annual event to take place in the current climate, and we’re proud to be involved in such a big way in the programme plans for the second day which focuses on the future of the industry and future fuels.”
As well as being sponsors of the 2nd day of the conference Cobo Tankers and Services is also exhibiting and are promising exciting new things to showcase to visitors to their virtual exhibition booth.
Dawn Shakespeare, UKIFDA membership and events manager, comments: “With three months left to go before the exhibition takes place, we have over 25 confirmed exhibitors already. These include longstanding exhibitors such as Phillips 66 Ltd, Cobo Tankers and Services Ltd, Dunraven Systems Ltd, Greenergy, Fuelsoft, Williams Tanker Services, Maygar SA, Oilshield and Mechtronic and new and returning exhibitors such as Commercial Fuel Solutions Ltd, Kingspan Water & Energy and Hospital & Medical Care Association. We are anticipating around 50 exhibitors in total online this year and are looking forward to booking more exhibitors over the next few months.”
Ken Cronin adds: “We’ve turned our initial disappointment at not having a physical EXPO this year into determination to make our first virtual event the best it can be – and just as successful as previous EXPOs have been for the past 40 years. We’ve realised that as well as bigger challenges to arranging a virtual event there are bigger opportunities too, and we intend to seize both and work hard to make this virtual exhibition a real achievement for everyone involved with it.
“We’re excited by the line-up for the two days as it’s varied, current and future-focussed. Every aspect of the days has been designed for easy discussion and interaction with our online audience, both exhibitors and delegates alike.
“Across both days, we will showcase the industry’s hard work with regard to meeting carbon emission targets through the introduction of renewable liquid fuels and a roadmap for a decarbonised future.
“We want as many companies and individuals, exhibitors and visitors, as possible to join us virtually on 7th and 8th July and join our discussions across the two-day event – and can’t wait to connect with everyone.”
For further information on this year’s virtual UKIFDA EXPO, please contact Dawn Shakespeare via email ds@ukifda.org or visit ukifda.org/ukifda-expo to sign up to the exhibition or to book a stand.
Maurice MacSweeney, director of litigation funding at Harbour explains how climate litigation is seeking to change corporate behaviour.
This spring sees OTS Group Ltd celebrating its 50th anniversary and, from humble beginnings in 1971 in a farm cowshed to becoming a leader in the fuel industry, the company has never lost sight of its values.
Fuel Oil News is saddened to report the passing of Mark Mackenzie, on 23rd March 2021, aged 38 years.