News 35
Exolum was one of 14 companies to win an award at the second edition of the UK-Spain Business Awards, which recognise innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship in fourteen Spanish and British companies.
The award was presented at a virtual gala hosted by the British Ambassador and attended by Britain’s Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade, Gerry Grimstone, and Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez.
The UK-Spain Business Awards, which are held in conjunction with the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain and Banco Santander, recognise companies whose business activity in Spain and the United Kingdom has boosted trade relations between the two countries. Specifically, Exolum won the award in the Growth in the UK category for the significant expansion the company undertook last year in the UK.
At the end of 2020, the company added 15 new liquid product storage terminals to its portfolio, 11 of which are located in the UK. With this acquisition, Exolum has consolidated its presence in the UK market and initiated operations in the rest of Europe.
In addition, Exolum has expanded its service offering to include the storage, management and transportation of new liquid products, particularly chemical products, and has begun to operate in new sectors, such as eco-fuels, the circular economy and the development of new energy vectors.
Exolum currently employs more than 2,300 professionals and operates in eight countries, where it manages a pipeline network of over 6,000 kilometres, 68 storage terminals and 45 airport facilities with a total storage capacity of more than 11 million cubic metres.
The Grangemouth firm, Rix Petroluem (Scotland) Ltd has teamed up with a campaign launched by an ex-Scotland rugby star to help tackle motor neuron disease (MND).
The charity was set up by Doddie Weir OBE and close friends after the former international player was diagnosed with MND in 2017. The organisation has two main objectives: to raise funds to invest in MND, and to support people living with the disease and help them live as full a life as possible.
Gail Fawcett, Rix Petroleum business unit manager at its Grangemouth depot, is confident the company can support the organisation by raising a significant sum. She said: “My Name’5 Doddie is such a worthwhile cause, we want to do them proud.
“We’re planning a lot of activities that we can do despite Covid. We’re determined that won’t hamper our efforts.”
Mark Cessford, general manager at the fuel firm’s Montrose base, said: “Doddie Weir OBE is a national hero in Scotland and a household name to rugby fans across the world.
“So, when he announced he had been diagnosed with MND, it really brought home that developing this awful condition can happen to anyone. As someone who has followed his career, I admire the way he has brought as much grit and determination to his personal fight and to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation as he did his rugby.
“Naturally then, when it became time for us to choose a charity to support, this was top of our list.”
To help the charity, Rix Petroleum has created point-of-sale material for their depots to inform customers about its work and has appealed for donations.
The company has also taken its support of the foundation on the road by displaying branding on the back of a tanker to help spread its message. Rix Petroleum is also putting together a range of Covid-friendly fundraising events and aim to raise money at any agricultural shows that go ahead in 2021.
A multi-partner plan involving the Port of Cromarty Firth has been launched to establish a green hydrogen hub in the Highlands that will see Scotland lead the world in hydrogen technology.
The North of Scotland Hydrogen Programme aims to develop a state-of-the-art hub in the Cromarty Firth to produce, store and distribute hydrogen to the region, Scotland, other parts of the UK and Europe.
One of its projects will provide distilleries in the region with hydrogen. A feasibility study into this kick starter Distilleries Project will begin this month and is due to be completed in June. It is being privately funded by partners including ScottishPower, drinks giants Glenmorangie, Whyte and Mackay and Diageo and Pale Blue Dot Energy who are also leading the project.
Green hydrogen is created using electrolysers powered by electricity from renewable sources. Power would be supplied from current and future wind farms off the coast of the Cromarty Firth, as well as onshore schemes, and fed to the hub.
Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port, said such a hub would provide a “massive boost to Scotland’s ambitions of decarbonising its economy and establishing itself as global leaders in green hydrogen technology, a sector still in its infancy.”
The delivery of green hydrogen to Glenmorangie, Whyte and Mackay and Diageo will give them the opportunity to decarbonise the heating of their distilleries and maltings, which are situated close to the Cromarty Firth. This would be achieved by using hydrogen as a substitute for fossil fuels to create the energy needed to make steam so the distilling process can be achieved.
Bob Buskie added: “In the short term, we have a number of local partners with vast experience in hydrogen, distilling and utility provision who want to decarbonise their operations. And in the long term, there is a huge opportunity to decarbonise Highland industry, transport and heat, as well as exporting green hydrogen to other parts of the UK and mainland Europe, which doesn’t have the same offshore wind capacity as Scotland.”
Sam Gomersall, hydrogen champion at Pale Blue Dot Energy, leaders of the feasibility study commented: “Scotland has the potential to be a global forerunner of green hydrogen production on a massive scale. It cannot be underestimated the hugely positive effect this would have on Scotland’s decarbonisation plans, as well as on jobs and the economy.”
Up to 15 new offshore wind sites are due to be developed in the coming years, with a significant number of the schemes on the ‘doorstep’ of the Cromarty Firth. That, along with the Port’s deep waters, established facilities and location at the end of the gas grid and in close proximity to large amounts of renewable energy, make the area perfect for a green hydrogen hub.
Scotland’s energy minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “It is clear that hydrogen will not only help us end our contribution to causing climate change, but could also create significant economic opportunities in Scotland and, in helping sustain new economic opportunities in a port that has a long track record as a supply chain hub for offshore energy developments. It will also support the Just Transition of the North Sea supply chain. The North of Scotland Hydrogen Programme is an exciting example of collaboration and regional hydrogen innovation required to realise the significant economic and environmental potential that hydrogen presents in Scotland.
“Our Hydrogen Policy Statement, published last year, highlights the importance of the development of regional hubs of hydrogen activity and innovation which will be central to ensuring we can make the most of Scotland’s massive potential in this new sector – a sector in which Scotland looks likely to have a significant competitive advantage.”
Maersk Training UK (MTUK) has launched the first half of its refurbished Aberdeen safety and survival centre which has undergone a £720k refurbishment to ensure it meets the needs of the industry as it looks to the future and the energy transition.
A new collaboration between the biggest commercial vessel operator on the Thames, GPS Marine and Green Biofuels, the UK’s leading provider of clean advanced fuel GreenD+, will help reduce London’s carbon emissions, improve local air quality, and boost the Thames’ drive to clean up and reduce pollution.
Join Fuel Oil News at StocExpo’s The Terminal of Tomorrow digital conference, taking place 16-17 March 2021 from 10.00 – 17:00 CET each day.
As a StocExpo media partner, we are offering our subscribers complimentary tickets (usually €250+VAT) to the two-day online event.
Covering topics on hydrogen, energy storage, and renewable diesel, key speakers from Vopak, EASE & Oiltanking will give their firsthand experiences of how they plan to diversify beyond hydrocarbons. Speakers will provide actionable insights and plenty of fresh thinking. Hear from the experts, including Khalid Saleh
sustainability manager, Vopak, Anneli Teelahk, senior policy officer, EASE and Jorge Lanza, CEO, Exolum (fomerly CLH Group).
Click here to receive your complimentary pass and see the full programme here.
Environmental risk reduction specialist, Adler and Allan, is announcing changes to its senior leadership team effective 1 March 2021. This supports its ambitious growth plans as the UK’s leading provider of environmental risk reduction services, covering both emergency response and scheduled maintenance across a wide range of critical asset infrastructure and contaminants.
Henrik Pedersen will become group managing director, having previously held the role of group commercial director. He will provide a clear focus on commercial growth based upon the depth of the group’s technical expertise and track record of exceptional service to its customers.
Mike Willink will become group development director having previously held the role of group managing director. He will manage the integration and success of acquisitions, together with retaining responsibility for group supporting functions.
The group also welcomes a new group commercial director, Mark Bannister. Mark is an experienced commercial director having worked at a number of successful companies including RS Electrocomponents and Travis Perkins.
The changes follow the recent announcement that Adler and Allan has a new financial partner, Sun European Partners, and is the continuation of a period of growth for the company, which had a strong performance in 2020 despite the global pandemic.
The organiser of the liquid fuels distribution industry annual event, UKIFDA, is delighted to announce that, for the first time in its 40-year history, EXPO will go virtual and will give centre stage to the industry’s Future Fuels initiative.
In addition to the new format and emphasis UKIFDA is also announcing that the headline sponsor will be industry titan Phillips 66 Limited.
The event will take place on 7th and 8th July 2021.
UKIFDA’s new chief executive Ken Cronin says:
“Having discussed this widely with our exhibitors and our members it was clear holding a physical event this year was shrouded with too much uncertainty. To expect commercial decisions to be made on such a basis would be grossly unfair. The safety of everyone has to be paramount.
“The EXPO has been running for more than 40 years and is the pivotal event for the liquid fuels distribution industry. In keeping with the spirit of EXPO we wanted to hold an event and do something bold which would be accessible to everyone and would bring people together to meet and discuss the important issues of the day bridging the gap between now and when we can meet safely.
“It is also fantastic to reveal Phillips 66 Limited as our headline sponsor. Phillips 66 has been a major part of UKIFDA EXPO for a large part of our history and we will be working closely with them to make this event a great success. I am also delighted at the strong response we have had from everyone in the premarketing of this event.
“Given everything we’re doing as an industry to contribute to the Government’s Net Zero target – with the investment we’re making in and the campaigning for the inclusion of renewable liquid fuels – this is an exceptionally important year for our industry and our customers and why we have decided to focus on Future Fuels.”
Renee Semiz, managing director, UK Marketing, Phillips 66 Limited: “We are thrilled that, despite the unprecedented challenges of the last 12 months, UKIFDA EXPO 2021 is going ahead and we are proud to be the headline sponsor. Operating excellence, environmental stewardship and social responsibility sit at the very heart of Phillips 66 and we look forward to the opportunity to be part of a key event in our industry’s calendar that is shining a light on the Future Fuels initiative.”
UKIFDA membership and events manager Dawn Shakespeare adds: “We have already secured the services of a leading event platform provider to ensure success and the best possible virtual experience for exhibitors and visitors alike.
“The social nature of the annual UKIFDA EXPO is key and will be a big part of the new virtual version, which will have a dedicated exhibitor area.
“This area will provide the ability for exhibitors to display pictures, videos and leaflets, as well as organise events, presentations and announcements, and to hold meetings with interested parties.
“There will be an entire separate conference section with the ability to hold presentations and to engage in interactive Q&A sessions.
“Day 2 of the event will be focused on what the future of the industry looks like and will be fully devoted to the Future Fuels Project. There will be opportunities for exhibitors, Members and delegates alike to discuss and showcase the transition to low carbon liquid fuels.”
“This year’s virtual UKIFDA EXPO will provide the industry with the connection it needs – and will bridge the way to when we hope to host a physical EXPO once more in April 2022 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
“We hope as many exhibitors and visitors as we normally attract to our annual exhibition will support us this year and join us online for what promises to be a highly rewarding two days of exhibits, seminars, presentations, announcements, meetings, networking, Q&As, and more.
“We’re excited about our decision to go virtual this year and can’t wait to connect with everyone online on 7th and 8th July.”
For more information or to book your exhibition space or one of our remaining sponsorship packages, you can contact Dawn Shakespeare, UKIFDA membership and events manager, via email ds@ukifda.org or alternatively visit the show website www.ukifda.org/ukifda-expo/ to register to attend.
bp announces that Peter Mather, bp’s UK head of country and senior vice president for Europe, will leave the company at the end of the year.
Peter has been UK head of country and regional president for Europe since 2010 and recently established bp’s new regions, cities & solutions entity across the UK and continental Europe. It caps a distinguished career of almost 40 years working in upstream, refining and supply, gas and power, trading, shipping, and commercial leadership roles across several countries.
William Lin, executive vice president regions, cities & solutions, said: “We’re immensely grateful for Peter’s unwavering commitment to bp over his career. We will miss not only his sound counsel but his ability to represent the company and skillfully manage a broad set of relationships across the UK and continental Europe.”
Automotive charity, Ben, announces that its 10-day virtual active challenge, Breakout for Ben, has raised just under £159,000 – an amazing total that will help address its £1million fundraising shortfall.
Ben invited the whole automotive industry to Breakout for Ben in February and a total of 986 people took part. They walked, ran, cycled and exercised their way to complete over 80,000 miles collectively to raise much-needed funds for the charity. Teams embarked on a virtual journey visiting motor circuits across the UK, starting at Pembrey Circuit in north Wales and taking in all four home nations, before ending at Silverstone.
With the Breakout total included, just under £737,000 has now been raised to help address Ben’s £1million fundraising shortfall following its rallying cry last year asking for urgent support.
All funds raised will help Ben support automotive industry people with their mental health, physical health and wellbeing. Fundraising like this is vital and means that Ben can be there to help those in crisis and provide support with stress, anxiety, depression, money worries, or anything else.
Congratulations to the Breakout for Ben competition winners:
The March issue of Fuel Oil News looks in depth at the industry efforts to find future fuel solutions.
Names have been announced of the 26 sports clubs chosen to receive funding under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative launched last September by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.
Open to sports clubs across the 26-counties, irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender, the initiative saw a fund of EUR130,000 being made available by Valero for distribution in equal amounts of EUR5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis.
Close to 400 clubs submitted applications under the scheme. Of the clubs that will now receive funding, EUR55,000 will go to five Gaelic football, four hurling, one camogie and one handball club. Five soccer clubs will share EUR25,000, with the next highest amount of EUR10,000 divided between two basketball clubs. Additional disbursements amounting to EUR40,000 go to athletics, boxing, climbing, cricket, diving, hockey, rugby and swimming clubs, all receiving EUR5,000 each.
Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, acclaimed broadcaster and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan. Commenting, he said: “as adjudicator, the most uplifting aspect of the process was the desire expressed by even the smallest niche clubs to build on their value to communities, to expand membership by attracting new players and by providing a safe setting for young people.” “In most cases, finance to purchase materials and equipment required to accommodate more members was a key requirement,” he added.
Congratulating winners on their success, James Twohig, director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited said: “A feature evident in almost all applications was the pressure felt by clubs in the current circumstances to expand their role within their local communities with increased membership demands and the need for extra equipment and improved facilities.”
He added: “The purpose of our initiative is to help clubs to overcome these obstacles so that they can continue to remain active and at the very heart of their local communities. This is why we believe our initiative has been so warmly welcomed by sports clubs nationwide in its launch year.”
For the first time in Belgium, hydrogen will be used in a commercial scale cogeneration plant designed to generate electricity and heat from natural gas. The aim of the pilot project by INEOS and ENGIE is to replace natural gas with hydrogen used by the INEOS gas turbine. Initially 10% of the gas feed will be replaced by hydrogen. If this goes well the feed will be increased to 20%. The CHP plant at the INEOS Phenol site in Doel, one of the first to be built in Belgium, has the ideal profile to realise this test.
Hydrogen is expected to become an important link in the transition towards climate-neutral energy across society. One possible evolution in the coming decades is the gradual replacement of natural gas by hydrogen and in time ‘green hydrogen’ generated from renewable energy via electrolysis. This will gradually reduce the CO₂ emissions of current processes based on natural gas.
ENGIE is responsible for the design, installation and operation of the technology at the Antwerp site. INEOS Phenol has experience in handling hydrogen as a raw material for its production processes and also has the necessary permits for the hydrogen project. The commercial scale project plays a pioneering role in the energy transition of the chemical industry. This practical exploration by ENGIE and INEOS will provide both partners with valuable insights and data in the use of hydrogen in industrial facilities such as monitoring efficiency and measuring emissions during combustion, which is essential in the development of a next generation of burners.
ENGIE and INEOS are also joining forces on the Power-to-Methanol project in the Port of Antwerp. Both companies sit on the consortium with other partners to produce green methanol by reusing captured CO₂ in combination with sustainably generated hydrogen. INOVYN, an INEOS business, will operate this demonstration plant at the Lillo site.
The initiative is part of the roadmap that INEOS defined at the end of last year for its Antwerp sites to become climate neutral by 2050 and to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. The roadmap consists of a combination of measures such as the reuse of hydrogen and CO₂, further investments in electrification, the switch to recycled or bio-based raw materials where possible, and the use of ‘green heat’ and renewable energy. To this end, last year INEOS concluded two major contracts for the purchase of offshore wind energy, including the largest Belgian industrial contract ever with ENGIE.
Cedric Osterrieth, CEO ENGIE Generation Europe, said: “ENGIE believes in hydrogen as a key link to a carbon-neutral economy and wants to take a pioneering role with these industrial-scale tests, both in terms of research and practical implementation. We can again count on the expertise and support of INEOS, a key partner for ENGIE in the energy transition. This pilot project will give us better insights into the use of hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions, bringing us one step closer to a carbon-neutral future. It is a strong complement to our already ongoing projects across the country in which we are developing hydrogen solutions for industrial and mobility applications, starting from our expertise in renewable energy production, storage and infrastructure.”
Hans Casier, CEO INEOS Phenol: “This test is fully in line with INEOS’ strategy to avoid CO2 emissions at source. It marks a further step for INEOS Phenol in Doel, where 20% green steam is already being purchased via the connection to the Ecluse network. Today, INEOS already produces 300,000 tons of hydrogen on an annual basis as a ‘co-product’ of its chemical processes. This hydrogen is largely used as a low-carbon fuel and as a raw material in its own production processes so that fewer fossil raw materials have to be used. INEOS recently started a new business activity that focuses on the development of ‘clean hydrogen capacity’. For this, INEOS can rely on the expertise of INOVYN, which, as a chlorine and PVC producer within the group, specialises in electrolysis, an important technology for producing hydrogen.”
By upgrading from its previous Isuzu 7.5 tonne fuel oil tanker to a brand-new Isuzu 11 tonne tanker, Kinch Fuel Oils Ltd is benefiting from much greater additional payload using a truck that is compact enough to still access the many tight and restricted customer locations throughout Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
The latest Isuzu F110.240 rigid truck to join the 12 strong tanker fleet at Kinch Fuel Oils is fitted with a 7000-litre tanker body, commissioned and built by Road Tankers Northern in Barnsley. With a three-compartment tanker body for even weight distribution, this Isuzu tanker will be carrying mainly kerosene and a range of domestic burning oils to customers local to the company’s Malmesbury base in Wiltshire.
“With the increase in fuel oil tank capacity available on the higher GVW Isuzu 11 tonner, we will now be able to cover up to 12 customer drops per day using this vehicle. Our previous Isuzu certainly gave us good service over many years but by moving up the weight range, this has allowed us to become more operationally efficient,” said Roy Kinch, director, Kinch Fuel Oils Ltd. Roy continues: “The drivers of this new Isuzu have already confirmed how easy it is to drive in both urban environments and country lanes, as well as it being really manoeuvrable on site, allowing them to access properties with quite limited access.”
Supplied by Bristol based Isuzu Truck dealer AK Commercials and supported by a seven-year R&M agreement, the Isuzu F110.240 tanker will be operational in the Kinch’s fleet for at least seven years, covering approximately 30,000 km per annum, on fuel oil distribution to customers in the Wiltshire and Gloucester areas.
“Throughout the whole new vehicle acquisition process, AK Commercials were excellent in terms of the service and support given to us. With Isuzu recently opening a new dealership in Swindon, Sparks Commercial Services Ltd, we will now be using them for ongoing service work as they are literally just up the road from us,” added Roy Kinch.
“Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of Isuzu chassis being used for fuel oil distribution, especially those companies involved in delivering to domestic properties. With so many rural residences being located in areas with challenging road networks and narrow vehicle access, Isuzu trucks are the perfect vehicle for this type of distribution. It’s good to see a long-established company such as Kinch Fuel Oils continuing to benefit from having Isuzu in its fleet,” said Richard Waterworth, head of sales, Isuzu Truck UK.
Exolum is the new brand name chosen by the CLH Group, strengthening the identification of the company with its future aims, focused on adapting its business to decarbonisation and the energy transition, the digitalisation of activities and the fight against climate change.
This rebranding is due to the need to adapt to the new environment and to transform the company itself, which, in addition to carrying out oil product storage and transport activities in Spain, has embarked on an international growth process and is now present in 7 other countries. The group has expanded its activity to the storage, management and transportation of liquid products, especially chemical products, operating in new sectors, such as eco-fuels, the circular economy and the development of new energy vectors.
In recent years, the CLH Group has experienced a series of notable changes, mainly focused on sustainable diversification, both of the geographical areas where it operates and the services offered to customers, over and above hydrocarbon logistics. Therefore, it became necessary to renew the brand and align it with this new era of the company.
“We want these initiatives for diversification and adaptation of the company to be aligned with the new challenges of the sector with a change in our corporate identity that reflects our growth and leadership,” explains Jorge Lanza, CEO of Exolum. “This brand reflects the transformation process that we are going through internally, to align with the company’s new business models and transmit our company values. These values are innovation and trust, reflecting the open and flexible way that we face the future, promoting new business opportunities committed to the development and sustainability of the planet.”
The new name, simple but modern, shows a spirit where innovation is the key. The brand is easily recognised in any language and the company will use this one name for all its business, both in Spain and six other countries where it currently operates (UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Panama and Ecuador – in Oman, it will continue to operate with the joint venture OQ Logistics), thus reinforcing the global identity of the group and creating a great brand that is sound, international and unifying.
With Exolum, the company sets itself a challenge to maintain the same level of recognition, extending it to the public at large, adapted to meet the aim of the company: “We create innovative solutions to improve our world”.
The Prax Group, a leading independent oil refining, trading, storage, distribution and retail conglomerate dealing in petroleum products and bio-fuels, has announced that it has successfully completed the strategic acquisition of Lindsey Oil Refinery and its associated logistic assets in the United Kingdom, following the signing of an agreement in July 2020 to purchase the refinery from energy major Total.
Covering a 500-acre site and located five miles from the Humber Estuary in North Killingholme, North Lincolnshire, Lindsey Oil Refinery has an annual production capacity of 5.4 million tonnes. It is one of Europe’s most advanced refineries, processing over 20 different types of crude including, petrol, diesel, bitumen, fuel oil and aviation fuels, which are transported across the UK and abroad by sea, road, rail and pipelines.
With a strong track record of integrating acquisitions and managing assets in the oil value chain, the Prax Group is a long-standing and trusted partner of Total. The acquisition of the refinery will bring about new investment and underlines the Prax Group’s determination to support the local economy and the wider community, whilst continuing to explore new business opportunities as part of its long-term growth strategy.
Prax has also announced the appointment of Luc Smets as general manager of the refinery. Prior to his
Southampton-based fuel supplier WP Group is fuelling change for a cleaner greener future by moving its own fleet over to the more sustainable Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel, as it has shown to be not only more efficient than standard diesel fuel, but also more cost-effective and improves the carbon footprint of the vehicles that use it.
The WP Group’s Fuelling Change strategy demonstrates its commitment to more sustainable and efficient fuelling solutions that provide practical benefits, both commercially and environmentally.
The innovative company provides a range of fuel management solutions which improve operational efficiencies to UK customers in the fields of construction, traffic and fleet, airports, port and marine, agriculture, energy and power.
The Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel delivers lower CO2 emissions, resulting in cleaner air quality. Compared to standard Esso™ diesel, the Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel helps to reduce Nitrogen Oxide emissions by an average of 10 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 2.8 per cent.
Independent tests on Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel also showed a reduction in fuel use of 2.8%, amounting to 28 litres of fuel saved for every 1000 litres purchased and a saving on the business fuel bill.
Mark Clouter, business development sales manager at WP Group, said:
“We’ve seen the benefits that this additised fuel can deliver and have switched our own fleet to run on Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel to support our company’s sustainability in the future.
“We recognise that our position as a supplier of diesel products, in today’s market, requires continual business evolution and this allows us to support the increasingly demanding requirements our customers are faced with when working to achieve their business objectives.
“We offer a comprehensive selection of fuelling solutions, from ISO standard diesel to HVO, a fossil-free, low carbon drop-in diesel replacement. And, importantly, we work with our customers to ensure, whichever fuel they use, it is used in the most efficient way possible.
“Our own switch to using Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel in our fleet is a small step but a logical and significant one towards fuelling change.”
Tests at Millbrook Proving Ground, one of the most comprehensive test facilities in the world for conducting independent fuels testing, conducted with heavy-duty vehicles over a five-month period of normal daily on-road operations found that Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel helped to reduce emissions; 10% NOx, 22% PM and 2.8% CO2, and improve fuel consumption by an average of 2.8% when compared to unadditised diesel.
Vehicle type, engine type, driving behaviour, and other factors also impact fuel and vehicle performance, emissions, and fuel economy. You can find out more about Esso Diesel Efficient™ fuel and the independent tests performed at Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd at www.thewp-group.co.uk/esso-diesel-efficient.
A new facility, which will convert non-recyclable household waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use by airlines operating at UK airports, has been created in a joint venture between Essar Oil (UK) Limited (Essar), Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited (Fulcrum) and Essar’s subsidiary company Stanlow Terminals Limited.
This innovative bio-refinery will convert several hundred thousand tonnes of pre-processed waste, which would have otherwise been destined for incineration or landfill, into approximately 100 million litres of low carbon SAF annually.
The project, which will see an investment of approximately £600m, will use Fulcrum’s proven waste-to-fuel process, which is already being deployed at its pioneering facility outside of Reno, Nevada in the United States, where operations are due to begin later this year.
Fulcrum will construct, own and operate the plant within Essar’s Stanlow manufacturing complex in the North West of England and Essar will assist with the blending and supply the new SAF to airlines, with Stanlow Terminals Limited providing product storage and logistics solutions for the project under a long-term agreement.
UKPIA director-general, Stephen Marcos Jones, commented:
“Today’s announcement demonstrates how critical Essar’s Stanlow Refinery is to the success of these efforts to decarbonise the economy of the North West, as well as showing more broadly how the downstream oil sector is an ally in the UK’s ambitions to reach ‘Net Zero’ emissions by 2050, as outlined in UKPIA’s Transition, Transformation and Innovation report.
“Aviation is going to be one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, so this investment by Essar and Fulcrum to build a biorefinery in the UK is paramount to meeting the Net-Zero commitment.”
The project, named Fulcrum NorthPoint, will create 800 direct and indirect jobs during the design, build and commissioning process and over 100 permanent jobs during its operation. Plans for Fulcrum NorthPoint are expected to be complete at the end of this year and subject to planning consent, will be operational in late 2025.
The Oil Market Journal (OMJ) has launched a series of new dashboards which provide full details on oil tankers en-route, in port and at anchor in ports around the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The service updates in real-time and details any tanker in the world which has set its destination to a port in the UK and Ireland.
The service provides full details on the gross tonnage of the cargo and other data including estimated time of arrival, last destination and status.
Within the OMJ Port Report Dashboards clients can click on a tanker report and a pop-up will provide a map detailing the current location of the tanker along with details on other tankers in dock or heading to other ports listed on the Dashboard tile.
In addition, clients can edit the service to their own individual requirements including the country, port, type of tankers and/or tanker status.
Advantages
The service enables oil distributors to ascertain when a tanker is en-route to a port and is especially useful during periods of “tight supply” when product is on allocation.
The data shows users when the tanker has arrived and as a result, users will know that product will soon be available again at the oil terminal.
Pre-built Dashboards
OMJ Port Report Dashboards are available for all the key oil ports in the United Kingdom and Ireland and is part of the “OMJ Professional Subscription.”
Free trials are available via OMJ’s support team.
UKIFDA, one of the largest training providers for tanker drivers in the UK, has now been approved as a remote training centre by all the appropriate driver training bodies. This new centre will allow UKIFDA to continue to provide their complete ‘one stop shop’ tanker driver training in a remote environment.
UKIFDA chief executive Ken Cronin comments:
“The DfT/DVSA have recently announced that, due to the current pandemic, driver training should take place remotely whenever possible. The speedy action taken by UKIFDA to implement remote training means this will not impact our members training requirements.
“Through the new remote training, delivered via Zoom, UKIFDA are now able to offer UKIFDA members ADR – initial and refresher courses, CPC – all modules and PDP – annual refresher classroom driver training courses. The courses are all industry specific and tailored to the individual’s needs.
“Examinations cannot be conducted remotely but arrangements can be made for these to take place at UKIFDA members’ approved sites in adherence to COVID-19 restrictions and UKIFDA will assist members in organising this.”
Low costs – high standards
Kent-based logistics company Lenham Storage has signed a new 12-month fully comprehensive support contract with Europump Maintenance Ltd for all the fuel island equipment at its two main depots.
Speaking about the deal, Lenham Storage’s fleet manager, Steve Emsley, said: “We are delighted to have signed the deal with Europump Maintenance Ltd. We knew some of their personnel and knew they had a reputation for good service so it made sense to switch to them. We are very happy with how our relationship is progressing.”
Martyn Gent, business development manager at Europump Maintenance Ltd, commented: “It’s great to have been chosen by such a long-established logistics expert. We are very pleased to be working together.”
StocExpo, the leading tank storage event, has been postponed from June 2021 to 8 – 10 March 2022 in a decision made in consultation with the community. The live exhibition, conference and associated awards, which regularly attracts key visitors and exhibitors from across the industry’s biggest, best and most innovative players, will be held at the Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
After announcing Crown Oil as the winner of our 2020 Tanker of the Year competition, we hear from Crown Oil director, Mark Andrews:
Otley-based company, Tate Oil, has partnered with Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years, in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.
Launching on 1st January 2021, family-run Tate Oil will be planting a tree for every 4th order a qualifying customer places – helping the 1.5 million homeowners using heating oil to offset their carbon emissions. As a completely free service to the customer, Tate Oil’s scheme is one of the first of its kind in Yorkshire and focuses on giving back to the local community.
Working with local trust, the scheme will support the target of planting 100,000 trees within the county, including areas such as Nidderdale and the Yorkshire Dales. The charity will be working with landowners and farmers to facilitate the tree planting, with customers able to visit their tree.
Michael Devlin, deputy CEO at YDMT added:
“Through our ‘Together for Trees’ campaign we are working with many supporters and partners such as Tate Oil to plant 100,000 additional trees across the region. Trees are hugely valuable as a habitat for wildlife, supporting some of our most endangered woodland animals, like red squirrels, dormice and cuckoos.
“They are also important for our mental health and wellbeing and we believe that everyone should have access to them. The appeal aims to raise funds to create beautiful woodlands that everyone can enjoy for years to come.”
Tate Oil has ambitious goals for their new green initiative:
“This is a really exciting opportunity for us to help our customers offset their carbon emissions” says Andrew Tate, director of the company. “This is the next step in Tate Oil becoming a greener company, and we’re pleased to be working with a local charity doing great things for our county”.
The scheme will offset approximately 3,000 tonnes of CO² from the atmosphere, bringing Yorkshire a step closer to achieving the UK’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.