Spotlight 29
Craggs Energy has recently taken delivery of a new six-wheeler tanker built by West Yorkshire tanker manufacturer, Tasca Tankers
On Friday 17th June, 15 members of the Craggs Energy team will embark on a 50-mile walk around Calderdale in under 24-hours.
A previous Armonico Consort event at the Royal Albert Hall – one of the charity’s main aims is to nurture a love of singing and performance in young people who might otherwise not be exposed to performing arts
Next Tuesday (14th June) Phillips 66 will be sponsoring a ground breaking children’s concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London when 25 employees will also take to the stage.
Major initiatives at Essar’s Stanlow refinery have seen a hydrocarbon margin improvement of +$3/bbl in the last four years, taking its margin to + $5/bbl compared to the North West Europe benchmark. The refiner also entered the UK’s fuel retail market and has plans to grow its network to 400 sites over the next three years
Stanlow Refinery owner Essar Oil (UK) has announced its best ever financial results, for the year ending March 31st 2016.
Bapco – the Bahrain Petroleum Company – is to establish a regional gasoline blending hub with Greenergy. Bahrain Gasoline Blending (BGB) is set to meet local and regional demand for gasoline blend components.
Visitors will also have the chance to meet JET’s ambassador, racing driver Nicolas Hamilton, who will chat about his racing experience and his tireless campaigning to encourage everyone to Exceed Expectations. Nicolas, whose brother is Lewis Hamilton, lives with cerebral palsy
Following the success of its original three-year sponsorship deal, JET is to extend its role as official fuel partner to the Silverstone Classic for a further three years, through until 2019.
For this year’s event, which takes place from 29th to 31st July, JET has teamed up with Vital Equipment, suppliers of high quality fuels and lubricants for the motorsport industry, to provide two refuelling stations for competitors. This is Vital Equipment’s first venture into classic sports car events, having already established a respected reputation in the nation’s GT, TT, rallying and touring car events.
JET’s village green and fun fair will return again this year with the addition of sponsorship for the event’s iconic big wheel. The village green will also include family entertainment, children’s rides, chill out zones, crazy golf and a range of food and drink options.
“We’re delighted and very proud to be part of the continued success of what is without doubt, one of the world’s biggest – and best – classic motor racing festivals,” commented Mary Wolf, managing director, UK & Ireland marketing for Phillips 66. We’re also very excited to be taking on the title sponsorship of the Super Touring Car Championship races at this year’s event as part of our sponsorship.”
In June, JET will launch its unique Silverstone Classic ‘Money Can’t Buy Prize’ for two lucky individuals. This prize will include full hospitality and accommodation over the weekend, £500 spending money, and high adrenalin on and off-track experiences. Details of how to enter the competition will be available at www.jetsc.co.uk.
The MechTronic cyclist team – Ryan, Chris, Phil, Brad and Ben
Earlier this month a team of cyclists from MechTronic took part in the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride, a 119km charity bike ride in aid of the RNLI which was completed in just four and a half hours.
Setting off from Scarborough the team endured heavy rain and windy conditions although the sun did make an appearance as they cycled through some of the picturesque Yorkshire countryside.
A particular highlight of the ride was the iconic Côte de Harwood Dale climb. Coming 13.4km into the ride, this is a tough 1.3km climb with an average gradient of 7.4% and a challenging maximum gradient of 16%.
“This is the second year we’ve completed the ride,” said team member Ryan.
“Although our legs were still hurting a couple of days later, it was worth all the pain for such a fantastic cause and we’re already looking forward to doing the race again next year!”
In the meantime, the next challenges for the MechTronic team are the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride – 70-miles from Wetherby to Filey on 18th June – and the York 100 on 14th August which will see the team cycle 100 miles across the North Yorkshire countryside.mechtronic.ltd.uk
“It has always been a pleasure working in the bulk liquid storage industry,” says Richard Sammons who retired at the end of April
After more than 30 years of dedicated service, Richard Sammons stepped down from his role as executive chairman of Inter Terminals at the end of April.
Richard started with Simon Storage as finance director in April 1986 before progressing to chief executive from 2006 to 2014.
“I am delighted in the progress achieved within Inter Terminals,” commented Richard.
“From its beginnings as a UK terminal operator, Inter Terminals has become one of the largest terminal networks in Europe with subsidiaries in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland.
“I wish Martyn Lyons, CEO and his executive team and workforce every success for the future.”www.InterTerminals.com
OFTEC’S new chief executive is to be Paul Rose.
Currently OFTEC’s technical director, Paul will take up the position on 1st August 2016 following Jeremy Hawksley’s retirement at the end of July.
Paul has worked in a number of technical roles for the organisation since 2005. He was appointed as chief executive following a competitive selection process during which external candidates were interviewed.
Commenting on the appointment OFTEC chairman, Nick Hawkins, said: “Paul is very well known in the oil heating sector having been technical director at OFTEC since 2011.
“He represents OFTEC on a number of national and European technical panels relating to heating. Paul is a member of the Chartered Management Institute, Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers (IDHEE), and is a UKAS technical assessor in the area of ‘certification of persons,’ a route to registering with a competent persons scheme.
“The Board is confident that Paul is the right person to take OFTEC forward and to ensure that oil heating and cooking has a bright future.”
www.oftec.org
CLH-PS currently supplies airports at Heathrow (pictured above), Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester
Recognising the outstanding contribution of a Spanish company in the UK, an Annual Golden Award is made by the London-based Spanish Chamber of Commerce each year.
This year the CLH Group, which created the CLH Pipeline System (CLH-PS) to manage the UK’s Government Pipeline Storage System (GPSS) acquired last May, is the recipient. The GPSS acquisition was the first investment carried out by CLH in a European country and the second at an international level following the creation of a joint venture in Oman in 2014.
“This prize recognises the extraordinary effort made by CLH to perform an operation of this status,” explained Salvador Guillén, CLH Group managing director. “The acquisition represented an increase of 50% of the pipeline network that the CLH Group has in Spain.”
CLH-PS has now embarked on a £90 million programme of modernisation of assets and the implementation of advanced technologies which is expected to take until December 2018.
“This level of investment shows the commitment of the CLH Group to become the leader in the safe and efficient distribution of liquid fuel in the UK,” said CLH-PS chairman, Juan Bonilla. “We must not forget that, at the moment, CLH-PS is the only independent network in the UK dedicated to the storage and distribution of jet fuel through pipelines.”
CLH-PS currently supplies fuel to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports in addition to the UK Ministry of Defence. The CLH Group has recently been awarded the operation and renovation of the fuel storage terminal at Dublin Airport with a new company – CLH Aviation Ireland – created to manage these infrastructures.www.clh.es/clhps/staff/section.cfm?id=1&side=2349&lang=en
Formed by Macquarie Capital and Greenergy earlier this year, Navigator Terminals offers customers unique storage solutions for crude, petroleum, chemicals, liquefied gas, bitumen and biofuel products at strategic locations at major UK ports including Seal Sands on Teesside pictured here
Navigator Terminals has completed the acquisition of Royal Vopak’s UK facilities at West Thurrock (Thames), Seal Sands (Teesside) and Windmill (Barry, South Wales) and Greenergy North Tees from Greenergy.
Through these acquisitions, Navigator has an initial storage capacity of approximately 1.5 million cubic metres, making it the UK’s largest independent bulk liquid storage provider.
Ian Cochrane has been appointed chief executive of the new venture. He joins from Vopak UK where he was managing director and brings over 40 years’ experience in the global oil and chemical industries. He will be working with an experienced team managing the terminals and ensuring that the company maintains and improves on the services delivered to existing and future customers.
Following the completion of the acquisition, Ian said: “Our priority is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of our facilities and to provide the highest levels of quality and customer service.
“We will continue to invest in infrastructure to enable us to maintain these priorities and ensure our customers are able to grow and succeed with Navigator.”www.navigatorterminals.com
“We continue to innovate, adapt and improve: we continue to focus on the detail and we continue to care,” said Gerald Ronson who recently celebrated 50 years in the retail industrySuzanne Plunkett 2016©.
With a mantra of retail is detail Gerald Ronson launched his first Heron branded petrol station in St Albans on 24th March 1966; last week he held a lunch to celebrate his 50-year milestone in retail.
“What we created in 1966 was revolutionary,” said Gerald who is now in his late seventies has since built over 1,000 service stations.
“Our combination of service, quality and low prices meant that when we opened our first station in St Albans in 1966, we had queues of cars for half a mile waiting to fill up at four shillings and 10 pence (old money) a gallon.”
Rontec, which incorporates Snax24, now operates over 220 sites across England and Wales and has a £1 billion plus turnover.
It was Ronson’s acquisition of Total UK’s retail network of 810 service stations that signalled his return to the sector in scale. Having made the acquisition, Rontec immediately sold non-core elements – DCC took 300 wholesale sites, the railheads went back to Total with UK pipelines sold to Valero. Shell took 254 retail sites leaving Rontec with 250 sites plus cash.
“When I started there were around 38,000 filling stations in the UK; now there are fewer than 9,000, with just four remaining in central London,” said Gerald.
“Petrol retailing is in my DNA, and whilst it is my hobby, it is a business that I am deadly serious about,” said Gerald.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved but watch this space because our journey is not over yet.”www.rontec.com
THIS YEAR PUMA ENERGY MADE ITS ENTRANCE INTO THE UK’S BITUMEN AND WHOLESALE MARKETS.
LIKE BING CROSBY IN THAT CHRISTMAS PERENNIAL MANY FUEL DISTRIBUTORS ARE DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS….
“Cloud solutions are more future-proof than any in-house solution in the world,” says Michael Martens, managing partner at Implico.
Implico’s iGOS cloud solution has successfully processed 1,000,000,000 litres of fuel for DCC’s French gas station network.
Jeremy Hawksley is to retire after a tenure of nine years as OFTEC’s director general
OFTEC director general Jeremy Hawksley has announced he will be retiring from the post this summer.
Since taking the helm in 2007, Jeremy has made a huge and valued contribution towards OFTEC’s progression and played an integral part in championing the industry at both national and international levels.
OFTEC chairman, Nick Hawkins, commented: “After nearly nine years as director general of OFTEC, Jeremy Hawksley has told the board that he wishes to retire this summer. We will all be sad to see Jeremy leave.”
The recruitment process to find a suitable successor for the role is currently underway.www.oftec.org
A BP branded MRH service station in Cheshire
On 11th January 2016, the European Commission approved the acquisition of MRH by Lone Star; the deal concluded on Tuesday.
Dallas-based Lone Star is a global private equity firm that invests in real estate, equity, credit and other financial assets. Since the establishment of its first fund in 1995, Lone Star has organised fifteen private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments totalling approximately $60 billion.
As the activities of MRH, which owns and operates fuel service stations in the UK and the Channel Islands, do not overlap with those of Lone Star, the Commission therefore concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
In recent years Lone Star has also acquired 89 ‘distressed hotels’ and has since revealed plans to bring these UK hotels together to form a £1 billion company, trading under the name Amaris. The company plans to spend £100 million in renovating the hotels which are in ‘great locations.’FOR MORE ON THE UK RETAIL MARKET – SEE INSIDE OUT IN THE FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE OF FUEL OIL NEWS – OUT SOON!www.mrhgb.co.ukwww.lonestarfunds.com
Inter Terminals is now the largest bulk liquid storage provider in Scandinavia with comprehensive facilities on both sides of the Danish Straits
As demand for storage outstrips supply, Inter Terminals has made a multi-million Euro investment.
The investment is in large ship handling and oil storage at the Asnaes Oil Terminal (AOT) in the Danish Straits, the third most active channel for oil products in the world.
Dredging and improvement works at AOT’s main oil quay and an adjacent jetty have resulted in deepening the drafts to 11.5m and 14.2m respectively. The jetties are able to accommodate vessels of Aframax and Suezmax up to 180,000 tonnes. To match this new loading/unloading capability two tanks at the terminal are being recommissioned, providing an additional 40,000 cubic metres of oil storage.
New developments – the installation of mixers/blenders in heated fuel oil and vacuum gas oil (VGO) tanks and radar-based tank gauging technology – at Asnaes are part of an upgrade programme at all four Danish terminals.
AOT, one of four coastal oil terminals operated by Inter Terminals in Denmark, is capable of storing 430,000 cubic metres of products, with the other terminals located at Ensted, Stigsnaes and Gulfhavn. The AOT complex occupies a strategic position for international movement of fuel oil destined for Europe, Asia and the USA.
Inter Terminals’ most recent acquisition in Sweden strengthens the company’s position on the Baltic still further with four terminals totaling 1.2 million cubic metres at the country’s principal ports of Göteborg, Malmö, Södertälje and Gävle. Occupying prime positions that cover both the west coast and Baltic Sea product flows, the terminals provide specialist storage, handling, and distribution for a diverse range of products including fuel oil, diesel, jet fuel, VGO and bitumen.
“Average utilisation rates across our European storage network in the first three quarters of 2015 were 93% compared with 77% for the same period in 2014,” said chief executive Martyn Lyons.
“Our ongoing investment in this strategically important location means we’re ready and able to meet the fast changing needs of the market and our customers.”www.InterTerminals.com
OPW has completed the acquisition of Tokheim Group S.A.S.’s dispenser and systems businesses.
One of the most recognised brands in the retail fueling industry, Tokheim manufactures fuel dispensers, retail automation systems and payment solutions and hasa presence in Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia-Pacific.
“Both Tokheim and OPW have been leaders in the retail fueling industry for more than a century,” said David Crouse, OPW president. “By integrating Tokheim’s advanced line of dispensers and automation systems, the combined business will be able to offer our customers an unparalleled end-to-end fueling solution.”
Tokheim is the fifth major acquisition for OPW in the past two plus years, and matches previous acquisitions, including Fibrelite, KPS, Jump, Liquip, of category-leading brands outside the North American market.
“OPW’s goal is to bring the very best solutions to our customers in all regions of the world,” said Keith Moye, OPW VP of global marketing. “Our combined product portfolio now comprises the industry’s broadest product offering, enabling us to bring a more complete solution to our customers.”
www.opwglobal.com/opw-retail-fueling/tokheim-microsite
The award was presented to Scania general manager Mark Wilson, Rhydian Harris, Scania Bristol service controller and ADR technician Dave Pougher by Scania’s managing director Claes Jacobsson
Scania Avonmouth has been awarded the HOYER dealer of the year shield.
The shield was awarded for achieving a 100% MOT first time pass rate, fleet availability of 96.9%, zero fleet safety incidents and 99.72% delivery performance. The team at Avonmouth looks after 7 trucks for HOYER Petrolog’s Esso estate business based at the Esso Fuel Terminal in Avonmouth.
Dave Pougher from Scania Avonmouth took the technician of the year award for “creating an excellent preventative maintenance culture leading to greater customer up time, as well as controlling costs.”
The outstanding achiever award was won by Kevin Hood from Scania Purfleet. HOYER Purfleet manager Joe Lydiate described Kevin as having a “can-do” attitude and being a “real cornerstone of the HOYER-Scania relationship”.
Congratulating this year’s winners Matthew Cox, fleet engineer at HOYER, said: “These awards recognise the strong working relationship between HOYER and the Scania team who have helped deliver exceptional performance contributing to improved service levels for the fleet in 2015.”
A fundraiser for Transaid to coincide with the awards raised £2000 for the charity.www.hoyer-group.com/en/contact/locations/europa/grossbritannien/www.scania.co.uk
Following the acquisition of 78 Esso petrol stations by MRH GB in March last year, a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation has raised concerns.
With sites acquired at Brighton and Cambridge being close to other MRH sites in the area, there are fears that a lack of competition could lead to drivers paying higher petrol and diesel prices in these areas.
Rather than face a full scale enquiry, the CMA has requested that MRH, which is the UK’s largest petrol station owner and operator with over 450 sites branded Esso, BP or TORQ, seeks an acceptable solution. The latter is proposing to sell its MRH Girton or Esso City site in Cambridge and its Esso Patcham site in Brighton.
The CMA opened MRH’s acceptable solution to public consultation and interested parties had until last Thursday to make their views known. A CMA decision on the MRH proposal is expected in February.
assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/…/MRH_full_text_decision.pdf
www.mrhgb.co.uk
Greenergy has also reached agreement with Royal Vopak to purchase its one third share in the joint venture that owns Thames Oilport and Thames Enterprise Park. (Shell retains its existing third share). New engineering work carried out at the Thames Oilport will allow the storage of diesel to commence next year
Macquarie Capital and Greenergy are to establish Navigator Terminals through acquisition of Royal Vopak’s UK operating storage assets and Greenergy North Tees
Behind Navigator Terminals (Navigator) are Macquarie Capital and Greenergy which have partnered to acquire Royal Vopak’s UK storage facilities at West Thurrock on the Thames, Seal Sands at Teesside and Windmill near Cardiff. Simultaneously, Navigator will also acquire the operational storage assets of Greenergy North Tees at Teesside.
These acquisitions will give Navigator an initial storage capacity of approximately 1.5 million cubic meters, making it the UK’s largest independent bulk liquid storage provider. Each terminal is strategically located in an area of significant regional demand.
“Our participation in Navigator ensures our continued access to the infrastructure assets that currently underpin our UK supply position,” says Andrew Owens, Greenergy chief executive.
“It gives us greater flexibility at these facilities, ensuring we will be best placed to deliver low cost and resilient fuel supply for our customers in the long-term. As an infrastructure investment company, Navigator will also provide a vehicle to fund further infrastructure acquisitions supporting our continued growth in the fuels sector.”
Neil Arora, senior managing director, Macquarie Capital said: “Greenergy is the leading provider of wholesale fuels in the UK and uniquely placed to lead investment in the UK storage sector. We are delighted to partner with Greenergy to establish Navigator Terminals. This transaction is another example of the flexible, partnership capital Macquarie Capital is able to deploy to support clients globally.”
There are no plans to change existing operations or management and staff of the terminals. Navigator will continue to provide ongoing fuel, crude oil and chemical storage for a wide range of customers at the terminals. Greenergy will continue as principal customer of Navigator for fuel storage at the West Thurrock and Teesside terminals. Navigator is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety across its operations and will combine the best of Vopak’s and Greenergy’s safety systems and culture at all facilities.
As part of the transaction Greenergy has entered into long-term off take agreements with Navigator at West Thurrock, Seal Sands and North Tees, where it currently stores and supplies fuel. In addition, Navigator has committed to build a new diesel pipeline to link the deep water jetty at North Tees with the neighbouring Seal Sands terminal, further integrating these two facilities and increasing operational efficiencies for the benefit of all customers.
The acquisitions are scheduled to complete towards the end of the first quarter 2016.www.greenergy.comwww.macquarie.com
“Vianet Fuel Solutions is a natural fit for the Wayne business as it helps further our goal to offer fuel management capabilities to our customers,” said Neil Thomas, chief executive officer at Wayne Fueling Systems.
“The Vianet business already has existing customers in the UK, has a knowledgeable team, and has competitive and comprehensive fuel management services which complements our product and services offerings,” added Neil.
The UK-based Vianet Fuel Solutions (VFS) includes two main product lines as part of the Wayne acquisition: Fuel Management Services (FMS) and Construction Forecourt Services (CFS).
FMS is comprised of real-time wet stock management, asset management and compliance monitoring services. CFS aligns with Wayne’s current UK services business, although provides additional provisions including construction and electrical compliance services and tank lining.
“Over the past two years, Vianet has made significant commercial progress and has established a strong reputation in the UK forecourt sector. This transaction recognises the value which has been created,” noted James Dickson, chairman of Vianet Group plc.
“Whilst it will be sad to say farewell to the VFS team, I’m pleased that there’s a great fit with Wayne who will take VFS to the next stage of development and growth. This is a competitive landscape increasingly dominated by major global players such as Wayne.”
The closure of the acquisition is anticipated to occur in first quarter of 2016.
Leading the company’s bid for ISO 17025 accreditation were quality assurance manager, Phil Saunders and regulatory affairs manager, Caroline Walton
Following a thorough UKAS evaluation of its laboratory’s quality management system, Morris Lubricants has become the first lubricants blender in the UK to achieve ISO 17025.
“This is the single most important international standard for calibration and testing laboratories,” said Phil Saunders, quality assurance manager.
“This accreditation demonstrates to our customers the professional competency of our laboratory and potentially creates an opening to develop new business as an internationally recognised testing centre for lubricants.
“A globally recognised standard, ISO 17025 will also support the continued growth of our export business.”
Earlier this month, HKS Holdings completed its acquisition of the Leicestershire-based Brobot Group.
The family-owned group has acquired 30 filling stations in three months, taking its total number of sites to just under 60. Following the addition of 23 Brobot sites, the company now stretches from Yorkshire to Surrey; HKS expects annualised turnover to reach £250m, representing growth of over 150%.
Brobot was founded by John Bootle in 1978 with a single site at Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray and expanded through acquisitions over the years. John Bootle died tragically early in 1996, following which Brobot continued its successful growth under the chairmanship of his wife, Pat Bootle and her dedicated executive directors, Bridget Smith and Eddie Bright; the latter said the sale was ‘a great fit’ and he wished HKS ‘every success.’
Earlier this year HKS was in 10th position in Forecourt Trader’s Top 50 Indies with Brobot in 11th place; recent acquisitions would now put HKS in 5th position.
“We’re delighted at the addition of the new locations,” said Shane Thakrar, chief executive at HKS Holdings.
“We’d like to extend our thanks to the Bootle family, Eddie Bright and Bridget Smith from Brobot for trusting us with the acquisition and taking these sites forward in the future. We look forward to welcoming the new members of our team on board to work alongside our existing committed team of individuals.”
HKS, which took the business of the year title at the Midlands Asian business awards, has recently signed a deal with SPAR to brand the majority of its forecourt retail units – Brobot is predominantly Londis – as well as concluding deals with Subway and Costa.
www.hksretail.co.uk
www.brobot.co.uk
www.brobotfuels.co.uk