In 2014, OFTEC helped secure a major win for the industry, challenging an EU standard which would have required oil heating appliances to meet NOx levels as low as 92mg/kWh by 2018. This level can only be achieved with a blue flame burner, such as this Riello RDB BLU, rather than the yellow flame burners currently in use Significant innovation means the oil heating industry should be ready to comply with the new lower NOx emission legislation on a range of appliances before the September 2018 deadline, says OFTEC.

As the FPS asks for ‘a raft of measures’ to help users of heating oil, the trade association has also called for the government to recognise the important service provided to the UK’s 1.25 million oil heating customers The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has called on chancellor Philip Hammond to use his Autumn Statement later this month to recognise the off-grid sector and assist the 1.25m mainly rural homeowners who are using heating oil.

Rising from an average of 34.40ppl including VAT in September to 39.90ppl in October, UK heating oil prices have risen 16% –  the steepest increase since the winter of 2010.  Based on the UK average, this increase could see the cost of 1,000 litres rise to £399, an additional £55 since September.

Holding the award for best oil company initiative SB Prasad, chief commercial officer, retail is flanked by awards host Brian Conley (l) and Blake Gladman, research and insight director for Him! which sponsored this award With ‘a fresh approach to fuel retailing’ Essar Oil (UK), which owns and operates the Stanlow refinery, has taken the Forecourt Trader award which acknowledges initiatives undertaken by oil companies in the last twelve months to enhance their petrol retailing operations.

“The insourcing of our operations and maintenance services will increase our level of ownership and will allow us to deliver a more efficient service,” says commercial director Nacho Casajús On 1st November 2016 all staff at the company’s petroleum storage depots around the UK started working directly for CLH-PS with the common objective of guaranteeing safety excellence and reliability of operations.

Two of the oil industry’s largest oil monitoring suppliers – Dunraven Systems and Kingspan Environmental – have issued warnings over the danger of counterfeit products entering the UK and Irish markets. The warnings come after it was discovered that counterfeit products were being offered for sale both online and offline using both companies highly reputable brand names.

Last Friday (21st October) the UK Petroleum Industry Association published its latest report – Fuelling the UK’s Economic Engine. The report sets out the key priorities for the downstream oil sector for a new relationship with the European Union and for a meaningful industrial and energy strategy that works for the whole UK. The report outlines the challenges ahead for the sector and the potential policy solutions that will enable the creation of an environment where industry can deliver and thrive. “Essential to achieving a meaningful strategy for the future will be the creation of an environment where industry can deliver and thrive,” said Chris Hunt, director general of UKPIA.  “This involves getting the nation’s energy policy right, recognising the strategic value of the downstream oil sector, today and in years to come, and realising a secure energy future through a clear, stable and well-designed legal, fiscal and regulatory framework.”  Read the report at http://bit.ly/2ep9lQ4     

The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers has once again launched a campaign to encourage the 1.25m homeowners who use heating oil to be prepared for winter and order heating oil while prices are low.   It now costs just £750 per annum (pa) to heat a typical three-bedroom home with a condensing oil boiler according to the latest figures from Sutherland Tables, the independent provider of comparative home heating costs.  “Even with a conventional boiler, that’s nearly half the cost of the nearest alternative,” said Mark Askew, FPS chief executive. “If you use LPG the average per annum cost is £1386, electricity is £1600 and traditional gas heating £967. This means that an oil condensing boiler is also substantially cheaper to run than any renewable heating option – wood pellets cost £1339 and air source heat pump radiators £1453.” Now in its fourth year, the campaign, which is run in conjunction with the government, Citizens Advice Bureau and Action with Communities in Rural England, urges householders to check oil tanks and heating equipment before the weather turns colder and journeys can become more problematic. “Heating oil is the cheapest form of energy right now and has been since January 2015. FPS is keen for consumers to make the most of oil prices by buying before winter arrives and to plan for ways to reduce energy costs during the colder months,” added Mark. The campaign advices using an OFTEC registered technician to fix any problems as soon as possible. fpsonline.co.uk oilsave.org.uk oftec.org.uk

Deputy first minister opens the Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University Energy supply and security will be among the major issues to be tackled at the Lyell Centre, a pioneering global research facility based at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University. In a merger with the British Geological Survey, Heriot-Watt is the first university in the UK to make a financial investment in tackling energy issues where actual deep ocean floor drilling is mirrored within the research laboratories of the campus, supported by new, cutting edge analytical facilities including the largest, most advanced research aquarium in the UK.  Officially opened last week by Scotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney, world leading academics and scientists are already looking at solutions to critical global problems. Welcoming the vast potential the Lyell Centre will bring, Mr Swinney, who is also cabinet secretary for education and skills, said: “The Lyell Centre provides Scotland with a strong platform for solving complex challenges and aims to be at the frontline of delivering future energy needs. That is why I am proud this government, through the Scottish Funding Council, has provided £3.5 million towards the Centre which will contribute not just to Scotland’s needs but those of the wider world as well.”www.bgs.ac.uk/contacts/sites/edinburgh/home.html

Work has already started on a new 24hr HGV refuelling station at Peel Ports Liverpool, detailed on the last Fuel Oil News e-newsletter.

Fully embracing the pink theme, staff at Prax Petroleum tucked into platefuls of pink goodies Last Friday was Wear it pink day – supporting the cancer awareness charity’s day with a cake morning, the staff at Prax Petroleum’s Weybridge office were certainly in the pink!Wear it pink has been going for 14/15 years and has raised a total of £28.9 million the past 14 years. Last year they raised £1.9 million just on ‘wear it pink’ day. “Jessica Tregar from the Prax Petroleum logistics team has raised over £750 on her Just Giving page,” said director Neil Robertson. “And, of that just over £130 of that amount was raised here on Friday!”www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jessica-Tregar

Mark Binns (r) receives the award from Chris Lee, managing director of Lucas Lee & Partners In the wake of the announcement of a major new contract with BP, HOYER UK has won a local Shooting Stars Award in recognition of its contribution to the community around its headquarters in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The Shooting Stars Award, run in association with chartered surveyors Lucas Lee & Partners and Huddersfield Town Football Club, recognises businesses in the region that are making a difference to the local community, whether through a new contract award, the creation of new jobs or through the longevity of a successful business. This popular award is now in its fourth year with an award winner selected each month. HOYER has run operations in the UK since 1974 and established itself as the market leader in nationwide fuel distribution with significant domestic and international operations for customers in the bitumen, chemicals, foodstuffs and air gas markets. From its Huddersfield head office, HOYER directs some 1000 people and 470 vehicles deployed across 35 locations throughout the UK. HOYER announced last month that it had entered into a long term agreement with BP to provide bulk fuel transport and logistics services throughout the UK. As part of the contract, HOYER Petrolog UK is set to take on responsibility for order taking, stock management, scheduling, despatch, physical execution and reconciliation of all retail fuels in the UK as well as aviation fuels in Northern Ireland. “HOYER Petrolog UK is really pleased to have been awarded the Shooting Stars award – the whole team here and around the UK will appreciate this recognition for the hard work that was put in to winning the high profile contract with BP,” said managing director Mark Binns.

THE JULY 2016 ANNOUNCEMENT THAT BP INTENDED TO SELL ITS BELFAST, HAMBLE AND NORTHAMPTON TERMINALS TOGETHER WITH ITS 50% SHARE OF ITS KINSGBURY FACILITY (WITH SHELL), AND A THIRD SHARE OF THE UKOP SYSTEM, IS PART OF A RATIONALISATION PROCESS WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 40 YEARS

Following the breach of Mainline Pipeline on 4th October near Nantycaws, Carmarthenshire, booms remain in place on Nant Pibwr to recover kerosene from the pipeline leak.

An artist impression of the new HGV refuelling site to be built in the Port of Liverpool in a joint venture between Certas Energy and Peel Ports Planning permission has been granted for a new 24-hour HGV refuelling facility at the Port of Liverpool, one of the largest, busiest and most diverse ports in the UK.

This autumn the Freight Transport Association has a range of initiatives and events designed to help with fleet safety starting with the Safety in Logistics conference this Wednesday (12th October)

Grant Vortex oil boilers continue to hold their position as the No.1 choice in the UK whilst the Worcester Greenstar oil boiler range has obtained Which Best Buy status for the first time