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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carrying 27,500m3 of ethane from US shale fields, the INEOS Insight heads for Grangemouth with the words ‘Shale Gas for Manufacturing’ emblazoned on its side Yesterday morning Fuel Oil News witnessed the arrival of the INEOS Insight as it travelled down the Firth of Forth towards Grangemouth.  Commenting on the ship’s arrival chairman and founder of INEOS Jim Ratcliffe said:  “This is a hugely important day for INEOS and the UK.”

Having ceased production in November 2014, approximately 60% of Milford Haven’s refinery’s process units will be dismantled and rebuilt at an existing facility located outside the UK.  Site relocation is part of the ABB asset closure and site regeneration service portfolio ABB Consulting has been awarded a contract to support the dismantling of the former Milford Haven refinery in south Wales.  At its close the refinery produced 108k barrels per day. 

Just how well the trucks work in their difficult operating conditions can be seen in a new film now available on Volvo Trucks’ YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwhyoUyJNoY Volvo Trucks is now taking yet another important step in the development of autonomous vehicles.  The aim is to examine how this technology can contribute to safe and productive transports in tough geographically-limited application areas.

Keen to hear from suppliers small and large across the whole of the UK, the government’s professional procurement arm, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), is gearing up to launch a new framework contract for the supply of liquid fuels to central government and other public sector organisations.

Par Petroleum, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last month, supplies 42 JET branded sites across the north ex rack from terminals. Find out more in Fuel Oil News September 2016.  Thanks to Liz Boardman who spotted this tanker just outside Morpeth The Energy Institute has recently published updated technical publications on the design, construction and operation of workshops for petroleum road tanker maintenance and guidelines for road tanker drivers’ emergency actions on road tanker loading racks plus a new free to download publication detailing  recommendations for a standard method of inspection for a safe loading pass.

OFTEC registered technicians can assist your customers with advice on the necessary precautions to protect their oil heating assets OFTEC has welcomed research which reveals that heating oil is no longer one of the top five most commonly stolen items in rural areas of the UK.

In his new role as manager, national sales at Phillips 66, Mark Todd looks forward to playing ‘an important role in expanding our share of the wholesale and retail market’ Mark Todd has been appointed to the role of manager, national sales in the UK & Ireland Marketing division of Phillips 66. Mark takes over from Emma McKim, who is moving to an internal role in London.

At the point of joining the JET network, the sites, which have all been reimaged, had a combined volume of 18 mlpa; this has already increased and further growth is predicted.