News
Who will take the title – Fuel Oil News Tanker of the Year 2020?
Fuel Oil News welcomes your nominations for the prestigious 2020 tanker of the year award.
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News
BP halves dividend after record loss, but the future looks bright
Following a record $6.7bn quarterly loss, BP has halved its shareholder dividend after the coronavirus pandemic hit global demand for oil.
News
Prax Group agrees purchase of Total Lindsey Oil Refinery
The Prax Group has signed an agreement with Total to purchase Lindsey Oil Refinery and its associated logistic assets. 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 will bring new investment to the refinery and underlines the Prax Group’s determination to support the local economy and the wider community.
“The Prax Group’s long-term strategy is to be fully integrated across the oil value chain from upstream to downstream,” said Sanjeev Kumar, CEO of the Prax Group. “Acquiring Lindsey Oil Refinery is a natural progression for the Prax Group, providing the opportunity to integrate the refinery and associated product flows into the company’s UK distribution and retail footprint, which operates under the Harvest Energy brand. We look forward to continuing to provide a secure supply of energy to new and existing customers.”
The sale will place the refinery at the heart of the Prax Group’s strategic network. Sanjeev Kumar continued, “We are committed to all Lindsey Oil Refinery employees, who are a key element for the future success of the refinery.”
Lindsey Oil Refinery saw a major investment from Total in 2015, which modernised and streamlined the refinery.
“Since selling our British retail network in 2011, the Lindsey Oil Refinery has not been part of Total’s downstream system. With this agreement to sell, the refinery will be at the heart of the Prax Group’s UK network and it will be able to add value more easily”, said Thomas Behrends, general manager of Lindsey Oil Refinery. “We are proud of the team and the work we have accomplished together.”
The completion date of the acquisition is expected before the end of 2020.
News
Isle of Wight Fuels to close its doors
After 60 years of trading, the parent company for Isle of Wight Fuels (IOWF) has decided to close the business, which includes the Isle of Wight’s only fuel storage depot, in less than 2 weeks’ time, resulting in concerns over knock on effects for customers and companies in the supply chain.
The company provides homes and businesses with vital heating oils, as well as supplying diesel and petrol to local filling stations, commercial operators and agricultural industries. With the closure of the depot in early August, the island will be reliant on fuel being brought over by tanker on cross-Solent ferries. Any disruption to this cross-Solent travel, fare increases, or regulatory changes could have serious knock-on effects to those on the island.
Over 1.5million litres of fuel passes through the Kingston Road facility in East Cowes each week and the depot can store a total of 3million litres, providing a good level of resilience. Once the depot closes – with the loss of around 15 jobs – the Island will be solely reliant on fuel being brought over by tanker on cross-Solent ferries, with no option to store a reserve.
The decision came after Motor Fuel Group, IOWF’s parent company, carried out staff consultations and a detailed examination of the trading options.
A statement from Motor Fuel Group reads;
“Following a detailed examination of the trading options of IOWF together with individual consultation with all members of staff, Motor Fuel Group announces that it is not viable for the business to continue to trade.
“Accordingly, and with regret, the IOWF business will close on Friday 7th August 2020.
“No fuel deliveries will be made, nor customer orders accepted, after this date.
“We would like to thank our customers for their loyal patronage and our staff for their professional and dedicated service.”
Ensuring continuity of supply
For the past 18 months, supermarkets on the Island have been sourcing their own supplies which are delivered by road tanker. However, the smaller and more rural filling stations are still supplied by Isle of Wight Fuels and Certas Energy – and Certas get their supply from the fuel depot in East Cowes too. If supplies were to run low at independent stations motorists may be forced to fill up at supermarkets, which could, in turn, see supplies depleted there quicker than normal.
A spokesperson for Certas Energy has said;
“We currently supply around a third of the fuel on the Isle of Wight across the various sectors. We are working closely with all of the relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure continuity of supply for the whole island.”
Aside from the loss of jobs, the small businesses who provide services to IOWF will also feel a knock-on effect.
Karl Love, the Isle of Wight councillor for East Cowes shared his concerns, both in a commercial and domestic sense, over the closure;
“It is important to understand the supply chain and impact. It’s not a simple case of bringing other suppliers to our Island, because they will have to learn the delivery routes and routines of Island people in making that delivery.
“I would hope that someone might purchase the company and consider introducing the supply of fuels by ships rather than carrying it in small tankers across the Solent on passenger ferries.
“We should not forget the loss of these jobs and its impacts on families. It is a skilled job requiring lots of safety training in order to handle inflammable fuels.”
News
Europe’s most advanced oil re-refinery now operational
Just 18 months after breaking ground, Europe’s most advanced, 100,000 tonnes per annum, used lubricating oil re-refinery, AVISTA Green’s in Kalundborg, Denmark, is operational.
The construction of the re-refinery has been realised through an international joint venture between Germany’s AVISTA OIL and Slicker Recycling from Stourport in the UK. They are both among the leading used oil collectors in Europe and responsible for supplying the volumes needed to feed the plant. The used oil is primarily collected from vehicle repair workshops, industrial companies and waste recovery sites throughout Europe and delivered to the plant either by truck or ship, mooring at the company’s dedicated jetty.
“We are proud of having succeeded with such a big project in such a short timeframe,” said Leon Sloth Skovbo, managing director, AVISTA Green. “Today, we have Europe’s state-of-the art re-refinery that transforms used lubricating oil into high quality base oil, turning a waste product into a reusable material, contributing substantially to sustainability and the circular economy.”
Despite the worldwide pandemic cancelling the original planned opening ceremony, the AVISTA Green team remain in high spirits and are eager to start production. Following months of hard work, from permitting and planning through to construction and commissioning, the re-refinery is now ready to transform its first litres of used oil.
Environmental profile
As indicated by the name, AVISTA Green has an environmental profile. Passing through the plant, the used oil is up-cycled back into high-quality base oil ready for re-use in the production of new finished lubricants. These lubricants will return to the re-refinery as used oil in a continuous cycle to be re-processed again, both in keeping with the European waste hierarchy and circular economy philosophy. The innovative technology used in the new facility is more environmentally friendly and efficient than conventional processes. Such re-refined base oil emits as much as 30% less CO2 than new base oil produced from crude.
Peter Jonsson, technical director said; “We have managed to keep all the specialist expertise and experience within our company by retaining the core of our skilled process operators during the construction of the re-refinery. During the last months they have been busy training new colleagues.”
The new re-refinery has been designed to meet the highest technical, environmental and safety standards. The plant is fully energy optimised including the recirculation of all surplus heat. Modern laboratory facilities are available for total quality assurance, from receipt of feedstock right through to the delivery of the final re-refined base oil. Safety remains a priority where the plant design, equipment, systems, controls and processes have all been implemented to keep employees, the environment and process integrity safe.
Leon Sloth Skovbo added; “We are looking forward to a bright future. The global focus on environment and climate will continue to grow strongly in the future, and here we see ourselves as a significant and important player.”
News
Amendments to certification are welcomed by Logistics UK
Logistics UK (the new name for FTA), has reacted positively to the changes to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) by government, which became effective 22 July 2020. As James Firth, Logistic UK’s head of road freight regulation says;
“It is now important that any changes made to the laws governing what is already a highly regulated industry should acknowledge that no two drivers are the same and provide capacity for tailoring training to meet individuals’ needs.
“During the negotiating process, the representative body ensured that any changes did not make the DCPC overly prescriptive,” he said, “and we are pleased that the ability to identify what training a professional commercial vehicle driver needs remains with industry – be that employer or driver themselves – rather than with politicians.”
Biggest change since inception
The changes to the certification, which cover amendments to minimum qualifications, training standards and the delivery of periodic training, as well as exemptions for drivers in specific industries, are now in force in the UK. The new directive has not imposed training rigidly – as it was feared it might – but now emphasises the importance of adapting and tailoring training to the individual’s own role, including relevant legal and technological developments, and remedial training as appropriate – mirroring the way the Directive has historically been implemented in the UK.
The most noticeable change will be the inclusion of a new flexibility around e-learning. Courses will be able to be designed to allow delegates to take up to two hours of a seven-hour course as e-learning content the day before a classroom session.
“This is the biggest change in delivery of Driver CPC since its inception in 2008,” continues Firth. “We will see how the training industry takes the option up, but we are pleased to see DVSA is looking for new ways of allowing delivery within the constraints of the Directive.”
Logistics UK has stressed that the term “e-learning” should not be confused with “distance learning” or “remote learning” which has been deployed as part of the emergency response to the Coronavirus outbreak. DVSA has indicated that it will next examine the continued use of distance learning in Driver CPC in September.
Name change reflects representation
More detailed information on the changes can be found in a member briefing note produced by Logistics UK, whose name change from FTA was originally planned for earlier in the year but postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis to focus on supporting members. David Wells, chief executive at Logistics UK, commented at the time;
“FTA is strong because of its size and scale and because we already represent all of logistics, a very large sector critical to the success of UK plc. The name change to Logistics UK is a natural progression and makes it more obvious to stakeholders, like policymakers and young people looking to develop a career in logistics, that we are the only business group that represents the whole industry. I believe this change will strengthen our position and give us a great opportunity to achieve even more for members in the months and years to come.”
With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, including its ground-breaking research into the impacts of COVID-19 on the whole supply chain, please visit www.logistics.org.uk.
News
Morris Lubricants helps heritage railways with pandemic support scheme
Morris lubricants has agreed to support 50 heritage and steam railways across the UK which have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Shrewsbury-based Morris Lubricants has worked closely with steam heritage workshops during its 150-year history and has great experience in formulating lubricants specifically for the sector.
The Morris Lubricants Heritage Railway Support Scheme, launched in April, aims to reward customer loyalty and support heritage and steam railways through these difficult times.
Andrew Goddard, executive chairman of Morris Lubricants, said that, as dedicated enthusiasts and supporters of the heritage and steam industry, the company was keen to support railways.
“We understand that it’s a difficult time for heritage railways in this pandemic and wanted to support them in any way we could,” he explained.
“Morris Lubricants has a long tradition of supplying these railways with our top-quality steam lubricants. We particularly wanted to reward the loyalty of our existing heritage railway customers and I am pleased to report that the support scheme has attracted others to use our products.”
Railways were invited to apply to the scheme explaining why they needed support and how Morris Lubricants could help. The response was excellent, and the company has agreed support packages that include discounted or free lubricants and promotional material.
Steaming into the future
One of those to receive support is The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), an award-winning charitable trust that carries 300,000 passengers annually from Pickering to Whitby.
News
Abbey Logistics HGV technician conquers challenge for charity
Matthew McCrudden, an HGV technician based in Abbey’s Middlewich depot, completed the tough Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours.
Matthew took on the challenge, as part of a team of eight, to raise money for A Stroke of Luck, a charity offering advice and access to exercise-based stroke recovery.
The challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks in Britain, totalling 26 miles of walking and 3,407 metres of climbing, in 24 hours. The team tackled Ben Nevis first, the tallest of the peaks, followed by Scafell Pike and finally reaching Snowdon in North Wales.
After successfully completing the Three Peaks Challenge, Matthew said; “The climb was incredibly tough at times, but we were motivated by knowing the donations were rolling in and we were all making a difference to each of the charities we were supporting.
“I’m very grateful to the fantastic team who climbed with me and to everyone who has donated to help support the amazing work A Stroke of Luck are doing to help stroke survivors on their road to recovery.”
To show your support and donate to help with the important work A Stroke of Luck are doing, please visit Matthew’s just giving page here:
https://lnkd.in/gbCyQS8
News
Entries now open for 2020 emission reduction award
The Logistics Emissions Reduction Scheme (LERS), run by Logistics UK (formerly FTA), has announced that entries are now open for its Leadership in Emissions Reduction Award, sponsored by ExxonMobil. The award recognises and celebrates the logistics company most committed to reducing emissions and leading the way in environmental excellence.
The winner will be presented with the accolade at Logistic UK’s Logistics Awards 2020 which. this year, will take place on 10 December at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.
Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy at Logistics UK, comments; “With an urgent need to improve air quality across the UK and to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, logistics businesses are striving to reduce emissions from their operations. This award is the perfect opportunity to recognise and celebrate the company which, through the use of alternative fuels and improved fuel efficiency, is making a significant contribution towards a greener future and paving the way for others to follow.”
The award is open to all members of LERS, a free-to join initiative to record, report and reduce carbon emissions from freight transport, administered by Logistics UK (the new name for FTA). The closing date for entries is 21 August 2020. To enter, or for more information, please visit: lers.org.uk/home/lers-awards
For more information on LERS, including how to join, please visit: http://lers.org.uk/
News
Another generous donation from Valero Pembroke refinery employees
Pictured left to right: Gaz Owens, Ryan Evans, Greg Walters and Steve Cristofaro. Picture by Marketing Manager, Jake Hicks, at the opening of the GTBAL Our Place store, in April 2019
Valero Operations Shift workers at the Pembroke refinery have donated another £25,000 to charity.
The previous generosity of this Valero team was reported in Fuel Oils News’ June issue, when a donation of the same amount was given to PATCH (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship) to help those in need during the pandemic lockdown.
As well as PATCH, this time donations have gone to three local charities focusing predominantly on mental health; Get the Boys a Lift (GTBAL), PATCH and SNAP Pembrokeshire.
A Valero spokesperson said; “A huge well done to our operations staff for raising funds to help support those that need it the most.”Messages of thanks
Since the opening of its shop in April 2019, GTBAL has provided free counselling and follow-up sessions to over 110 people.
GTBAL’s Ryan Evans said; “The mental health impact that COVID-19 has had and will continue to have is immense. Everyone needs to recognise that this pandemic will impact our communities in so many different ways. Helping those who have found this a tough time is the right thing to do. Thank you, Valero staff.”
SNAP is a specialist playgroup that helps children with additional needs with their development and education.
SNAP’s Cindy Jenkins commented; “This donation will help many families who are struggling with childcare for vulnerable children in this really difficult time. It is amazing that Valero staff are reaching out to help those in need. It won’t be forgotten.”
Valero has worked with PATCH over the years. Since 2008, the charity has been giving free food parcels, clothing and household items to those in financial need in Pembrokeshire.
“Valero has already given us the largest donation we have ever received but to have even more is beyond our expectations,” said Tracy Olin. PATCH manager. “Valero staff have really done something special and we can’t thank them enough.”
Stephen Thornton, manager public affairs, concluded; “The shift workers from the Valero Operations Department at Pembroke refinery have again performed an act of overwhelming generosity. They have chosen three well-loved causes in our county focusing pre-dominantly on mental health. This pandemic has reached into all our lives and the best we can do is to continue to help and look after each other.”
News
The Prax Group to purchase Lindsey Oil Refinery
The Prax Group has signed an agreement with Total to purchase Lindsey Oil Refinery and its associated logistic assets, with the deal subject to the conditions of sale being met. 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 will bring new investment to the refinery and underlines the Prax Group’s determination to support the local economy and the wider community. “The Prax Group’s long-term strategy is to be fully integrated across the oil value chain from upstream to downstream,” said Sanjeev Kumar, CEO of the Prax Group. “Acquiring Lindsey Oil Refinery is a natural progression for the Prax Group, providing the opportunity to integrate the refinery and associated product flows into the company’s UK distribution and retail footprint, which operates under the Harvest Energy brand. We look forward to continuing to provide a secure supply of energy to new and existing customers.” The sale will place the refinery at the heart of the Prax Group’s strategic network.Sanjeev Kumar continued, “We are committed to all Lindsey Oil Refinery employees, who are a key element for the future success of the refinery.” Lindsey Oil Refinery saw a major investment from Total in 2015, which modernised and streamlined the refinery. “Since selling our British retail network in 2011, the Lindsey Oil Refinery has not been part of Total’s downstream system. With this agreement to sell, the refinery will be at the heart of the Prax Group’s UK network and it will be able to add value more easily”, said Thomas Behrends, general manager of Lindsey Oil Refinery. “We are proud of the team and the work we have accomplished together.”
News
Senior industry figures launch energy transition advisory company
Leading oil and gas professionals Hamish Wilson, Bill Senior, Tony Smith, Martin Dru and Sarah Milne have launched BluEnergy, committed to enabling oil and gas companies to leverage their existing asset base to create low carbon energy streams, generating value whilst reducing carbon intensity. The team is made up of former oil & gas company professionals that bring a unique combination of low carbon and oil and gas industry expertise, as well as business transformation experience.
Hamish Wilson, co-founder of BluEnergy, says; “Our focus is to identify low carbon investment opportunities where companies already have a competitive advantage through in-country relationships and capital project capability. These can bring commercial advantage when deploying the following established low carbon technologies through early entry in emerging markets such as Solar and Wind”.
The challenge facing oil and gas companies has been thrown into sharp relief by the recent Covid-19 crisis, with companies fighting for survival, seeing cash flow, investor returns, supply chain, and the fundamental value proposition under threat with a highly volatile earnings stream and borrowing base. In contrast, companies with high proportions of renewable energy in their portfolios not only suffered less during the crash but have quickly returned to pre Covid-19 levels. The founders of BluEnergy, along with many other experienced industry professionals, feel that companies that do not embrace the opportunities presented by the energy transition and grow broader asset portfolios, may not survive long term. They do, however, believe that oil and gas companies are ideally placed to lead the transition, and that It’s time to move on from simply discussing the energy transition to actively design and implement strategies that protect and sustain both industry and the wider world.
“We are passionate about the energy transition and we know that oil & gas companies have the global reach, scale and skills to lead the energy transition” says Tony Smith, co-founder. “We recognise the cultural challenges in embracing this strategic move that starts the journey to the long-term transformation of the energy sector. BluEnergy is focused on delivering tangible low-carbon projects, and we believe we are well-positioned to support the oil and gas industry in moving towards a lower carbon intensity future and a more resilient share price”.
News
Vectec system offers solution to rising fuel theft problem
As reports of fuel theft increase across the UK, leading fuel management firm Vectec is offering an innovative, comprehensive solution to counteract the growing use of powerful pumps capable of lifting hundreds of litres of diesel every minute.
The first of its kind, the new Metron4 24-hour fuel theft detection system is making waves for its ground-breaking technology which measures fuel through rate of change functionality, rather than simple quantity sensors.
The fully customisable system enables users to configure the trigger sensor based on individual usage levels on site, sparking a site-based beacon and klaxon, along with email notifications to designated staff, upon the pre-defined rate of change being witnessed. Integrated UPS ensures that the system continues to operate as normal even in the absence of mains power for effective and efficient response to theft.
The new system comes at a time when thieves are understood to be taking between 1,000 and 30,000 litres of fuel at a time from often unmanned sites such as ambulance stations, fire stations, and council premises. The advanced drilling techniques utilised by thieves today can create an urgent need for site cleanup which can, in many cases, amount to more than the cost of the lost fuel due to the potential severity of flooding.
Vectec’s Simon Fowler said; “When we heard about this growing problem from our clients, our first response was to identify an existing solution that would tick all the boxes, yet we found that a solution that met our strict standards didn’t seem to exist. We found that many of the pre-existing solutions out there were known for their false alerts caused by external factors, so as fuel management experts we came together to design and develop our very own detection system that looks at the rate of fuel change over a set period.”
The system utilises rate of change technology which ensures that alerts are only sent in instances of real risk. Simple to install, Vectec’s new solution can be used on existing above-ground and below-ground tanks, and is easy to install across a selection of sites.
News
Valero and Co-op achieve record site conversion
July 1st saw a milestone reached by Valero Energy and the Co-op, with the biggest conversion of sites in one day that either company has ever attempted. The switch of 28 Co-op fuel sites to Valero supply in just one day was made possible by close collaboration between the two companies.
Valero, who last year agreed a long-term supply contract with the Co-op to be their principal fuel supplier, will now supply a total of 115 Co-op service stations across the UK. The sites are a mix of Co-op and Texaco branded.
Eddie Jenkinson, national fuels manager at Co-op, said; “Developing great partnerships is key to our approach and we are pleased to build on our work with Valero as we continue to create filling stations which are seen as a community hub locally – delivering the food and fuel needs that our members and customers need, conveniently.”
The ambitious goal was possible because of the introduction of an auto replenishment system,
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI). The system gives the supplier a live data feed from the retailer’s fuel tanks that enables them to predict demand and deliver fuel to a site when needed. This allows better planning and management of product supply for the retailer.
Although some groundwork has been completed in advance, with the majority of sites having been assessed for fuel delivery standards before the lockdown, the change was not without its challenges.
Project communication and coordination had to be undertaken virtually, making some tasks more difficult to fulfill than usual.
All store managers were provided with a welcome pack, which was followed up with a review to ensure they were fully briefed and informed to help guarantee a seamless switch between suppliers.
Simon Fawkes, national account manager for Valero, said; “I was particularly impressed with the enthusiasm, interest and cooperation shown by all the Co-op store and team managers. A number of the sites had been supplied by Valero previously, so it is a real pleasure for Valero to welcome them back and to welcome the new ones too. In addition to these 28 sites, a further two sites will be added in the coming months, bringing the total to 30.”
Andrew Cox, Valero’s director of sales and marketing, added; “We’ve worked with the Co-op since 2005 and our long-term partnership has certainly helped facilitate our success in delivering this project. I’m thrilled that we’re now supplying a further 28 Co-op sites and it’s great news that we’ve been able to bring this project together successfully in such challenging circumstances.”
News
UKIFDA appoints new president
Kettlewell Fuels director Janet Kettlewell was inaugurated as the 33rd President of UKIFDA on the 24th June 2020, during the trade association’s first virtual AGM.
Taking over the Presidency from Jodie Allan, who held the post for 3 years, Janet will head the association’s management committee. Her new role will involve working closely with chief executive Guy Pulham to optimise the work of the association in lobbying government on energy policy and the delivery of services for both distributor and associate members.
A UKIFDA management committee member for some 5 years and regional representative for Yorkshire and the North East of England, Janet has seen the trade association transform itself into a modern, forward-thinking and highly ambitious organisation that is ready for the next stage of its development.
Janet brings a wealth of sector experience and knowledge to the role, having joined her Yorkshire based family business Kettlewell Fuels, in 1996. Janet recently undertook an MBO of the business with husband Trevor, taking ownership of Kettlewell Fuels outright from the Kettlewell family.
Commenting on her appointment Janet Kettlewell said; “I am absolutely delighted to have been given this opportunity to use my 24 years experience for the good of the industry.
“I aim to continue the sterling work of past presidents on raising standards in the industry and making further significant progress on how the industry meets the decarbonisation targets set by the governments of the UK and Ireland. As the market continues to develop and change, as we enter a new era of liquid fuels, we will embrace all the challenges that lie ahead for our sector with enthusiasm and passion and I am absolutely sure that UKIFDA and its members will continue to thrive.
“I cannot wait to start working with the fantastic team at UKIFDA and the exceptional management committee to see what the next two years bring.”
UKIFDA chief executive Guy Pulham adds; “We all warmly welcome Janet as our new President – and we know she will make an excellent and fitting successor to Jodie. The team at UKIFDA has worked closely with Janet in her roles as regional representative and Vice President but also directly with her company Kettlewell Fuels, who have been UKIFDA Members for 24 years. She will prove a fantastic asset and a great advocate of our campaign to secure the much-needed support from government to ensure biofuels play a key role in the future of the 1.5m heating oil consumers in the UK and 686,000 in Ireland who are not on the gas grids.”
News
TSA welcomes new member
The Tank Storage Association (TSA) has further increased its representation of the UK’s bulk liquid storage sector with the addition of a new member, Stanlow Terminals Ltd.
Peter Davidson, executive director of the TSA, commented; “We are delighted to be welcoming Stanlow Terminals to the TSA as a full member. Through our strong and diverse membership, we become a more powerful voice for the UK’s bulk liquid storage sector and associated logistics. Together, we look forward to continuing to champion the economic and strategic value of UK terminals.”
Patrick Walters, chief executive officer of Stanlow Terminals Ltd, said; “I am delighted that Stanlow Terminals has joined the Tank Storage Association. The company was formed earlier this year and our tanks and related infrastructure in the North-West now contribute to the UK’s independent tank storage capacity. The TSA is an important organisation for companies engaged in the storage of bulk liquids and the provision of products and services to the sector. It provides an excellent platform to collaborate across the sector in the UK and abroad. The team at Stanlow Terminals looks forward to playing an active membership role.”
News
Slicker Recycling acquires RE:Group
Slicker Recycling Limited, the UK’s largest collector and processor of used waste lubricating oil, has announced the acquisition of RE:Group (UK) Ltd.
RE:Group, based in Hull, provides waste oil collection and processing, industrial services and advanced fuel manufacturing.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mark Olpin managing director of Slicker Recycling, which also provides total waste management solutions to its extensive customer base, said; “The acquisition of RE:Group is an excellent strategic fit, increasing our UK storage capacity, geographic reach, export options, innovative process capabilities and new products and services to offer our customers. Re:Group is a solid well run business and we are extremely excited by the opportunities this acquisition provides.”
Last year Slicker, through its parent company Greenbottle Limited, co-invested in a 100,000 tonne per annum base oil re-refinery situated in Denmark.
RE:Groups’ managing director Paul Waine, will remain with the business and has joined the board of Greenbottle. Paul said; “Slicker Recycling has in recent years invested significantly more in this sector than anyone else, so the chance to integrate RE:Group and also play a part in the continued growth story is a fantastic opportunity.“
Mark Olpin added; “RE:Group is the fourth acquisition in as many years for Slicker Recycling, which together with the investment in the Danish re-refinery, shows both the level of support and ambition the shareholders have for the business.”
News
Gleaner Oils owner joins board at Elgin City FC
Moray businessman Stephen Scott has been appointed a board member for Elgin City Football Club.
The former commercial property lawyer was born and brought up in Elgin before his studies and work took him to Edinburgh. Now back in Moray, Stephen owns the Gleaner Oils business in Elgin with his wife Jane.
A spokesperson for Elgin FC explains how the club have waited patiently for this appointment; “Stephen’s wife Jane is a Lossie girl, and about six years ago, they bought out her Uncle’s interest in what had been her family’s business, thus becoming 100% owners of Gleaner.
“Stephen openly professes to have had a zero per cent knowledge of the fuel business at that time but was driven by a desire to protect the staff as well as the dependent pensioners – about 360 people in total. He put in many 18 hour days as he gained an understanding of how the business works, which caused him to decline politely some previous overtures for him to join the City Board – because he worried about his business commitments causing him to let the Club down. He now feels though that the business and its subsidiaries are in a sufficiently good place that he can devote whatever energies are required to the Club.”
Stephen told the club’s website; “My late father Alex (a well-known chartered surveyor in Elgin) and my uncle Ed, mum’s brother (former editor of the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald), started taking me to Borough Briggs when I was a wee boy.
“Dad bought me my first season ticket in summer 1968 at the tender age of three, going on four. As those who know me will attest, I have been hooked on the club ever since. Our son Evan said to me when this decision was reached that it would have made Grandad very proud, as he was also an Elgin boy through and through. I agree, and that means the world to me.
“I look forward to working with all the great people on the board in furtherance of the ambitions of the club which we all love.”
Gleaner has multiple signs (one of which is LARGE) dotted strategically around Borough Briggs. Stephen’s association with his hometown club led him to form a Gullane branch of the supporters’ club, which has a banner permanently on display at Borough Briggs. He used to stay with his family in the East Lothian coastal town before relocating back to Moray.
In the photo Stephen is seen presenting the Man of the Match award to Rabin Omar, after he scored a wonder goal in a 4 – 1 victory against Annan last November.
Elgin chairman Graham Tatters said; “He’s a man with an unbelievable amount of experience in different matters in the business world. He’s going to be a real asset to the club.”
News
Ben Ball 2020 Cancelled
Automotive industry charity, Ben, has announced the cancellation of its annual flagship event, Ben Ball, in December. As a result of COVID-19, the event won’t be taking place this year for the first time since World War II, contributing to a potential income shortfall of £1m for Ben this year.
Having asked those who regularly attend Ben Ball if they would consider attending this December, the majority of past attendees said they wouldn’t due to concerns surrounding safety in light of COVID-19 and uncertainty around budgets.
The charity continues to support more and more automotive industry people with their health and wellbeing during this challenging time. Now, more than ever before, automotive people need the support of Ben to help them cope with anxiety, depression, money worries, bereavement and loneliness. However, this increased support comes at a time when the charity’s income has fallen as a result of the Coronavirus and the impact it has had on the finances of companies and individuals in the industry.
The cancellation of Ben Ball, along with the postponement of other fundraising events / initiatives, as well as a decline in donations, means Ben is anticipating a £1m income shortfall this year, similar to many other charities. This is why the charity is appealing for those who can, to continue their support and keep providing vital funds so Ben can always be there for those who are struggling.
Matt Wigginton, fundraising director at Ben, said; “Making the decision to cancel Ben Ball is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make, however with the uncertainty of the situation surrounding COVID-19 and the impact it has had on our industry, it was, unfortunately, inevitable.
“We are living through unprecedented times and this means making tough decisions, but also being adaptable, so we plan to run a virtual fundraising event on 9th December instead, which we hope our industry will get involved in. So watch this space, we’ll reveal more in the coming months!
“We would also like to take this opportunity to give our heartfelt thanks to those who have continued to support Ben during this time – your support is more valuable now than ever before. We look forward to seeing friends, old and new, at next year’s event!”
News
UKPIA welcomes FuelsEurope climate neutrality pathway
A FuelsEurope pathway describing how low-carbon liquid fuels could enable the transport sector to contribute to EU’s climate neutrality objective by 2050, has been welcomed by UKPIA. The ‘Clean Fuels for All’ pathway also shows that intermediate CO2 reductions of 100 million tonnes (Mt) are achievable by 2035.
John Cooper, director general of FuelsEurope, commented; “Today we are setting out an ambitious pathway for enabling transport to contribute to EU’s climate neutrality ambition by 2050, based on scale up of low-carbon-liquid fuels (LCLF) supply and use, across several transport sectors. With a clear societal and scientific case for far reaching climate action and taking into account the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus crisis, we respect that there will be no return to business as usual for the fuels industries.“
Partnerships for policy discussions
“With the focus increasingly turning to recovery and new investments, we believe now is the time to start policy discussions with EU and national policy makers, and customer stakeholders to design the enabling policy framework for the deployment of these essential low-carbon fuels.”
Low-carbon liquid fuels have a strategic role to play in the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, particularly in sectors such as aviation, maritime and heavy-duty transport where no equivalent technological alternatives currently exist. These sustainable fuels are from non-petroleum origin with no or very limited, CO2 emissions during their production and use. First blended with conventional fuels, these low-carbon fuels will progressively replace fossil-based fuels.
John Cooper stressed; “Complementary to electrification and hydrogen technologies, low carbon liquid fuels will be essential throughout the energy transition and beyond 2050, ensuring security of supply, providing consumer choice and also building Europe’s industrial leadership.” He added; “We have worked very closely with our member companies over the last 3 years on the low carbon pathways for liquid fuels. This thinking has been the starting point for development of an extensive technology set by our industry which now has potential to be deployed across Europe to deliver low-carbon liquid fuels at substantial scale.”
A pathway aligned with the UKPIA vision
UKPIA voiced support for the FuelsEurope pathway which, it says, aligns closely with its own Future Vision Report, released in July 2019. The report outlined a belief that the downstream oil sector can be a force for positive change that can help all users of our products to reduce their carbon footprint.
‘Clean Fuels for All’ is the latest publication on the role of the downstream oil sector in a lower carbon world. The pathway follows on from FuelsEurope’s 2050 Vision and UKPIA’s own Future Vision, which sets out a potential blueprint for how proven and emerging technologies make the UK downstream oil sector a vital part of economic growth, while continuing to meet government net-zero ambitions.
UKPIA director general Stephen Marcos Jones, said; “Achieving the enormously challenging targets of reducing emissions to net-zero by 2050, will require a significant transformation of the UK and EU energy systems but the downstream oil sector and low carbon fuels can have a large part to play. FuelsEurope’s latest publication “Clean Fuels for All” and UKPIA’s Future Vision, continue to show the positive role in decarbonisation that our sector can have. However, it will require pragmatic and supportive policymaking to unlock this potential.”
Ambitious but achievable
The pathway could enable reducing emissions from transport in 2035 by up to 100Mt CO2/y and contributing to EU’s climate neutrality ambition by 2050 as John Cooper further outlined; “Evaluation of scenarios by Concawe describes first new plants to produce up to 30 MToe of low-carbon fuels by 2030, with an investment cost estimated at €30- €40 Billion. This would include several first-of-a-kind plants at industrial size for the newest technologies.
“By 2050, depending on the scenario and technology cost evolution, up to 150MToe of fuels could be produced with the cumulated investments in the range €400-€650 Billion.
“In the most ambitious scenario, climate neutrality could be achieved for all remaining liquid fuel in road transport, with a 50% reduction in carbon intensity for EU’s aviation and maritime sectors. All of these achievements would be fully consistent with the Clean Planet for All scenario.”
FuelsEurope is outlining a set of policy principles, which it believes is central to delivering the industry’s climate-neutral ambition, with these points serving as a start for discussion with policymakers, supply chain partners and customer groups.
John Cooper concluded; “This pathway is ambitious, but achievable with multi-stakeholder collaboration. These new technologies are exciting but capital-intensive and their development at scale will require investor confidence and political vision. Everyone must be on board. We call on EU policymakers to establish a high-level dialogue with all relevant stakeholders as soon as possible. For the fuels industry’s part, we are ready to take the lead.”
Click here to subscribe to Fuel Oil News, which next month features an in-depth analysis of the roles of alternative liquid fuels and hydrogen in relation to the UK government’s decarbonisation ambition.
News
UKIFDA challenges Irish government on biofuels
The trade association, UKIFDA, whose members supply not only heating oil for homes and businesses but also fuel for agriculture, construction, road transport, marine fuels and importantly fuel for back-up generators for hospitals, schools, care homes and data centres across Ireland, congratulates Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party on being elected to form the new government with Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin sharing the Taoiseach over the 5 year period but urge consideration of alternative home heating solutions in the future energy plan.
UKIFDA chief executive Guy Pulham comments; “We want to work with ministers within government and newly elected Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who will hold the post until 2022 when Leo Varadkar takes over, in developing a pathway for off-grid heating in rural communities to help to achieve ambitions for a net-zero carbon economy. We are though, disappointed that there is not much detail in the published ‘Programme For Government – Our Shared Future’ with no specifics on numbers behind all the objectives. They say they are developing a new area-based and one-stop-shop approach to retrofitting, to upgrade at least 500,000 homes to a B2 by 2030 and provide €5 billion to part fund a socially progressive national retrofitting programme, targeting all homes but with a particular emphasis on the Midlands region and on social and low-income tenancies, but with the effects of COVID 19 on the economy how is this being done?”
Financial disadvantages must be avoided
“We will be emphasising to the government that we must not put the 686,000 oil heated homes across Ireland at a disadvantage. Our supply chain, for domestic liquid fuels (used for home heating and hot water) accepts the urgent need to decarbonise heating. Liquid fuel, more specifically a bio product, can be part of the solution to achieve net zero. We believe large scale electrification through the use of heat pumps is not the answer and government need to look at alternatives as this is not feasible, due to high installation and running costs of installing heat pumps for off grid homeowners.
“Importantly though, we are hopeful that statements such as – “As we set our society on a trajectory towards net zero emissions by 2050, it is vital that there is adequate time and effort devoted to working with communities and sectors in designing and delivering the pathway to achieve the goal in a fair way.” means the government are open to talking to our industry about biofuels.”
News
John Lewis Partnership steps away from fossil fuels
The John Lewis Partnership has announced that it is stepping up its commitment to reducing carbon emissions by building a dedicated biomethane gas filling station to enable its largest heavy goods vehicles to use a low-carbon alternative to diesel. This will aid the Partnership’s ambition to stop using fossil fuels across its entire 4,800 strong transport fleet by 2030.
Serving approximately 120 Waitrose heavy goods trucks, the vehicles will run on biomethane made from food waste and waste materials rather than diesel. This will reduce CO2 emissions by 80%, with each truck saving over 100 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The new biomethane gas filling station will be built in conjunction with Air Liquide and will open at the Partnership’s head office in Bracknell in December 2020, making it the business’s first on-site gas filling station. It will facilitate the conversion of the Bracknell Waitrose fleet to biomethane and complement gas filling stations already in use near to John Lewis and Waitrose regional distribution centres in Leyland, Lancashire, and in Northampton.
Since 2015, 85 of the Partnership’s heavy diesel vehicles have already been replaced with biomethane trucks, and a further 143 will be purchased and in operation by the end of 2020, making this the largest order of biomethane trucks in the UK.
All vehicles to run on non-fossil fuels by 2030
To reduce carbon emissions across its transport network further, the Partnership’s ambition is to eliminate fossil fuels from its commercial vehicle and car fleet by 2030. This radical initiative could see 1,750 electric vans and light trucks introduced and approximately 750 refrigerated trailers converted from diesel to electric drive. In addition, the Partnership’s 1,300 strong car fleet would become 100% electric and any remaining vehicles that could not be converted to biomethane or electric will use HVO biodiesel.
Justin Laney, partner & general manager of Central Transport at the John Lewis Partnership, said; “The evidence of climate change is all around us, so it’s important we act now using available technology rather than wait for unproven solutions to appear. We are working hard towards our new aim of removing all fossil fuel from our transport fleet by 2030, which will reduce our carbon emissions by over half a million tonnes and gets us well on the way to our ultimate target of operating a net zero carbon emission fleet.”
News
Launch of CODAS Fleet will help reduce transport costs
CODAS has launched CODAS Fleet, its flagship mapping and routing solution, bringing automated, optimised, entire fleet scheduling to CODAS, dramatically simplifying the route planning process, saving time and reducing costs.
The highly sophisticated, cloud-based scheduling algorithm, fully embedded in CODAS, enables users to rapidly create a robust transport plan that balances customer service with operational efficiency, adhering to customer, vehicle, driver, road, depot and product constraints, without the need to rekey data or exchange any files.
Time and cost efficiency
Statistics show that automated scheduling tools often save businesses up to 20% on fuel costs alone compared to routing manually.
Intelligent, multi-vehicle scheduling at the push of a button, provides CODAS Fleet users with a powerful facility for managing costs and maximising fleet performance, whilst meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
For more details, please visit the CODAS website: www.codas.com
News
A revolutionary launch from Magnus Monitors
Galway-headquartered Magnus has introduced its first product to the oil and lubricants industry – a truly wireless, battery-driven, radar technology-based oil level monitor that can be installed on tanks without holes or alterations.
The monitor is unaffected by environmental factors such as temperature, dust or humidity, which means that even in varying weather conditions, the readings can be relied on and are highly accurate: +/- 5mm to a range of 4 metres. Being battery-driven, it has the ability to run for up to five years with a high frequency of measurement and is suitable for domestic users as well as large scale industry including depot tanks, waste oil storage and agricultural usage.
Managing director, Shankar Ganesh Jayagopi, commented; “Before launching Magnus Monitors, the team thoroughly assessed the existing offerings for customers in the oil distribution marketplace. The same problems came up time and again – access to the tank for an accurate reading meant that a hole needed to be drilled in it, readings were often unreliable due to weather conditions and in general, options for tank monitoring were expensive and usually mains connected. We are excited to have developed a smarter radar-based monitoring solution that we are confident surpasses the capability of existing devices in the marketplace but is also cost-effective.”
The monitors are supported by an app which allows the consumer to monitor oil usage as they would their gas or electricity supply. It also provides a platform for oil distributors to communicate directly with their customer base. Distributors can also use the fully managed Magnus platform with its predictive analytics, allowing operators to plan routes to avoid multiple trips to the same area. This reduces both the wear and tear on tankers and the carbon footprint. It also provides visibility into customers’ tanks enabling a proactive rather than reactive approach.
For more information: sales@magnusmonitors.com