Having worked closely with government over the past three years ‘to develop new trading processes for the UK’s businesses to use after Brexit’, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) reported that the Yellowhammer document showed that ‘there is still much that could go wrong and still much that has to be done to keep Britain trading effectively’. ‘Many of the details may seem trivial but are actually crucial to the successful protection and continuation of the UK’s supply chain, and industry needs key decisions to be made urgently to keep imports and exports moving efficiently.  ‘We are still very concerned by the risk that fuel supplies could be impacted, considering this would affect the movement of goods both domestically and internationally – at no point in the past three years of negotiations has any indication of this nature been made to us or our 18,000 members by government.’ See Operation Yellowhammer document here. Unite the Union’s alarm has grown after the publication of the Operation Yellowhammer document with the union accusing the government of suppressing vital information on the future supply of petrol in the event of a no deal Brexit. Unite is concerned about the future of all six UK oil and chemical refineries due to the government’s plans to introduce zero tariffs on European Union petroleum products in the event of a no deal Brexit, while tariffs would apply to UK exports. By destroying the level playing field and with the fact that most UK refineries are owned by companies based abroad, Unite fears that all the UK’s refineries will suffer from a lack of investment at best and complete closure at worst. Allowing cheap imports of petrol and other products into the UK, would in the long-term lead to an increase in costs and major strategic problems about the security of a supply, with the UK becoming entirely reliant on foreign refineries. Unite has been working in parallel with the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) and the wider industry about these concerns but the government has not engaged with the sector’s fears. “This is a crucial matter for everyone in the UK and yet when the industry tries to speak to the government it is failing to engage,” said Unite national officer Tony Devlin. “Once again the government is flailing about, proposing to bring in troops to drive tankers which is entirely unnecessary but is not prepared to act to preserve the UK’s oil refineries, which are of crucial importance.”

INEOS Automotive has confirmed that the Grenadier will be built in a bespoke new manufacturing facility on a greenfield site in Bridgend, South Wales. The new utilitarian 4×4 has been named ‘Grenadier’ after the pub in which it was conceived.  Over 6,000 international fans and followers responded to an online poll to choose the vehicle’s name. Creating 200 jobs initially, and up to 500 in the long term, site development is now under way in support of a planned production start of 2021. “We have looked long and hard at possible manufacturing locations for Grenadier across the world with lots of good options to choose from,” said Sir Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS group chairman. “The decision to build in the UK is a significant expression of confidence in British manufacturing, which has always been at the heart of what INEOS stands for.”

JET’s new forecourt design has received an overwhelmingly positive response from consumers and dealers alike. Feedback was gathered during a recent 12-site pilot of the new forecourt design. The pilot has now successfully completed, with two company owned and ten dealer owned sites taking part.

The 2019 Tank Storage Association Conference & Exhibition is fast approaching. The event will take place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on the 26th September and will be attended by representatives from terminal operations and across wider industry. The TSA Conference has a reputation for attracting high quality authoritative speakers from industry, government and its agencies. This year’s conference schedule includes presentations on topics such as IMO 2020, energy transition, future health and safety regulation and understanding societal vs individual risk. The full schedule can be found on the TSA website. Delegates will include colleagues from across the bulk liquid storage sector, with an interest in logistics, HSE, quality standards and latest industry regulations. Advanced registration is strongly advised as the venue capacity is limited. Prospective delegates can register online via the TSA website. Aside from the conference, the event also includes an exhibition of 62 companies, providing delegates with the opportunity to discover the latest innovations in products and services. We are pleased to welcome many new companies who will be making their TSA exhibition debut. To register as a delegate or to find out more about the TSA Conference & Exhibition, visit www.tankstorage.org.uk/conference-exhibition

An industry led report from the REA has urged ministers to commit to 16% of the UK’s primary energy supply coming from bioenergy by 2032 in order to sustain UK energy security or risk jeopardising that security. Already providing 7.4% of primary energy supply, bioenergy’s contribution must more than double by 2032 if the UK is to address impending deficits, such as the looming nuclear gap, and meet growing electricity demand in the heat and transport sectors.

Coinciding with the start of autumn, UKIFDA and OFTEC have joined forces to launch their ‘Get Winter Ready‘ campaign which is designed to encourage the 1.5m heating oil customers across the UK to change their energy habits.

Earlier this month, UKPIA published its annual review of the downstream oil industry. The Statistical Review 2019, which UKPIA has published since 2003, is a comprehensive and accessible compilation of UK downstream oil industry statistics. It draws together recent information on the sector from across a range of sources including government departments and UKPIA members. Key statistics this year include:

Argus, which was the first price reporting agency to launch assessments for IMO 2020 compliant fuels in 2018, has produced a transition timeline infographic highlighting the key milestones to look out for. Additionally, during International Shipping Week, Argus will be holding a free forum on 9th September to explore the impact of IMO 2020 in more depth.  The company’s consulting and editorial teams will be discussing the effects of this era defining regulation change. Topics include:

North West-based logistics specialists Suttons International is working with Border Force, assisting its officers in the fight against smuggling.

Phillips 66, trading as JET, has secured two new site wins with Top 50 Indie operator, TG Convenience Stores, choosing JET as its supplier for its recently acquired Felling and Sunderland Road forecourts. Both sites are located close to each other in Gateshead, north east England.

Sajid Javid has promised to continue to freeze fuel duty in the lifetime of this parliament Having seen an ‘ill-informed report in the Guardian’ earlier this week,  the FairFuelUK campaign was quick to comment on a ‘hike in fuel duty’ proposed by the think tank, Bright Blue, which it claims was ‘riddled with inaccuracies and emotive statements’.

On 1st August 2019, the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) became the UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA). Created in 1979, FPS rose from the ashes of The National Oil Distributor Association (NODA) since when it has passionately served the interest of its members. With only three brand refreshes in those 40 years, the management committee is marking the 40th anniversary with a name change that not only means more to the end consumer but, is also a better fit the future liquid fuel industry. “The industry in which we operate has undergone tremendous changes over the past four decades and the association has continually adapted over that time to ensure that it represents, supports and informs its growing membership,” said Guy Pulham, UKIFDA chief executive. “It was time now for the association to move on and rebrand. This will ensure that it continues in the same vein, supporting the UK & Ireland’s changing energy landscape.”

The Tank Storage Association (TSA) has published the fourth edition of its Annual Review which provides valuable data with respect to this important sector within downstream oil distribution. TSA president Paul Denmead, director of terminal operations, UK at World Fuel Services, highlights that ‘being no further forward in terms of understanding what our exit from the European Union will look like, it is imperative that this is resolved so that we can move forward as an industry. There are many more issues ahead – decarbonistation, IMO 2020, inconsistent regulation to name just three. “We need to focus on these without the distraction of BREXIT,” says Paul, who is assisted by vice president, Adrian Jackson, chief executive of the Oil and Pipelines Agency.  Together they continue to implement TSA’s plan to further develop the association. The past year has seen 13 new businesses join the TSA family and also the launch of a technical committee to help identify areas in which TSA can seek to improve its knowledge and performance. TSA, which has established the Downstream Oil Industries Forum Trade Association Working Group is seeking to gain alignment with other trade associations in the downstream oil sector on common topics, such as the Road to Zero strategy. Download the TSA Annual Review at https://www.tankstorage.org.uk/assets/tsa_annual_review_final_to_print-compressed.pdf