Jim Ratcliffe “I want INEOS to be the biggest player in the UK shale gas industry,” said Jim Ratcliffe founder and chairman of INEOS which announced plans to invest $1 billion in UK onshore shale gas exploration and appraisal last week. If INEOS wins all the Petroleum Exploration and Development licences (PEDLs) – the vast majority are in Scotland and northern England – for which it has bid from DECC, the company would become the biggest player in the UK’s shale gas industry. INEOS is already the owner of two substantial shale licences in Scotland comprising over 120,000 acres, in addition to investing a further £400 million in an ambitious project to bring US shale gas to Grangemouth. If the company moved into development and production, substantial further investment would follow. “I think shale gas could revolutionise UK manufacturing as it has done in the USA,” said Jim Ratcliffe.  INEOS believes that an indigenous shale gas industry would transform UK manufacturing and that the gas can be extracted safely and responsibly. Gary Haywood, CEO INEOS Upstream, says: “Whilst the awarding of the licences is a matter for DECC, we believe our knowledge and experience in running complex petrochemical facilities, coupled with the world class sub surface expertise we have recently added to our team, means that INEOS will be seen as a very safe pair of hands”. The company also announced plans to give local communities 6% of the revenues from any shale gas it produces (4% going to home & land owners above the well and 2% to the wider local community). I believe INEOS has the resources to make it happen, the skills to extract the gas safely and the vision to realise that everyone must share in the rewards,”  added Jim Ratcliffe.   www.ineos.com

Minister for the Environment, Mark H Durkan, will be the keynote speaker at the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Transport Manager Northern Ireland conference, to be held at Titanic, Belfast on 3 March 2015. The conference, sponsored by Volvo Trucks and Brigade Electronics, aims to give transport managers the information and assistance they need to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing transport scene in Northern Ireland, covering key issues facing transport managers in the year ahead and providing advice relevant to everyday operations. The event will also include sessions by head of the Transport Regulation Unit (TRU) Donna Knowles, chief executive of Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) Keith Morrison, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). FTA policy experts will also be on hand to give updates and provide transport managers with guidance and best practice advice surrounding future legislation and enforcement changes. Prices for attending this event have been held at 2014 rates. The cost for FTA members is £265 (+ VAT) for the first delegate and £225 (+ VAT) for subsequent delegates. The cost for non-members is £330 (+ VAT) for the first delegate and £290 (+ VAT) for subsequent delegates. An online booking form is available at: http://www.fta.co.uk/events/transport_manager_northern_ireland_2015.html

Tony Brown, technical manager, Dawn Shakespeare, marketing and events manager, with Mark Askew The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has moved its office to Vienna House at Birmingham International Park in the West Midlands. “By moving, we’re now in a more central location geographically which means our members can access us more easily, and we’ve also reduced administration costs,” explained chief executive Mark Askew. “The new office is located near the NEC and Birmingham International airport and rail station which makes it ideal for members working across the country. We have more members than ever so it makes sense to be centrally located. “We’ve also recently enjoyed great success in Ireland where our member numbers are growing strongly together with our involvement at local and government level in the country on all oil-related matters,” added Mark. The FPS has 107 distributor members in the UK and 31 distributor members in the Republic of Ireland, with a total of 180 members. Between them, FPS members make around 5 million fuel deliveries a year. FPS’s new address is Vienna House, International Square, Starley Way, Birmingham International Business Park, Solihull B37 7GN.www.fpsonline.co.uk 

It was with ‘great frustration and regret’ that Bryan Kelly, vice president of UK operations for Murphy Petroleum, made the announcement that the Klesch Group deal announced in the summer had collapsed last week. “For the past four years we have worked tirelessly to secure a positive outcome for the future of the refinery and our workforce. Unfortunately, and despite every effort on the part of Murphy and our employees, we have been denied the desired outcome.” The refinery, which is already in shut-down, will now be decommissioned as Murco looks for a new buyer for its three terminals at Westerleigh, Theale and Bedworth and refinery which will become a storage and distribution base. Bryan Kelly thanked Murco staff for ‘their continued professionalism and commitment during the sales process’, and also placed ‘on record his appreciation ‘for the efforts of the UK government and the Welsh government and its Task Force.’ With all but 60 of the plant’s 400 jobs likely to go, Plaid Cymru has called for funding from the European Union’s Globalisation Adjustment Fund to help the workers.  MEP Jill Evans has also written to Welsh secretary Stephen Crabb to ask him to apply for funds. Changes to the global refining industry are impacting on the local economy with Murco’s contribution alone estimated to be worth about £30m a year. Whilst recent developments have led to a new gas-fired power station and two LNG terminal and a new combined heat and a power plant at South Hook has also received planning permission, this week a task force led by economy minister Edwina Hart will seek to attract new jobs to the area. MFG completed its purchase of Murco’s retail business on 1st October.  Managing director Jeremy Clarke said the collapse of the Klesch deal would have no implications for his company. www.murco.co.uk

Information, issues and future development are all on the agenda at next month’s FTA Fuel Tanker Conference. To ensure that fleet managers and vehicle engineers are fully up-to-date, this bi-annual event which takes place on Tuesday 2nd December at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham will include the following topics delivered by high profile representatives from the Department for Transport, DVSA and the Health and Safety Executive. Dangers and safe operation Regulation and issues with tanker approvals Inspection and certification ADR testing and enforcement Latest developments with fuel tanker components Safe Loading Pass Scheme – 2014 relaunch Energy Institute initiatives Challenges for operators  Andy Mair, FTA’s head of engineering, who is chairing the event said: “This FTA conference, sponsored by MAN Truck & Bus and PTV Group, provides an ideal opportunity for fleet managers, vehicle engineers and individuals with responsibility for specifying road fuel tanker design, and maintaining compliance with ADR and fuel tanker certification requirements with an exclusive opportunity to hear from the authorities and industry experts in this highly regulated industry sector.  Delegates will benefit from the confidence in being up-to-date with the very latest information, guidance and best practice advice surrounding developments in tank certification and operation.” The cost for FTA members is £325 + VAT for the first delegate and £275 + VAT for subsequent delegates; for non-members the cost is £385 + VAT for the first delegate and £345 + VAT for subsequent delegates. http://www.fta.co.uk/events/fuel_tanker_conference_2014.html  

INEOS has commissioned a further two Dragon Class ships to bring US ethane from shale gas to its manufacturing plants at Grangemouth and in Norway. The increased order raises the fleet to 8 Dragon Class ships which are needed as construction of an ethane terminal starts at Grangemouth and another nears completion at Rafnes David Thompson, chief operating officer INEOS Trading & Shipping said: “This exciting news is another important milestone in our plan to bring the benefits of US shale economics to our European sites.” Investment in a supply of US ethane is vital to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of gas crackers that so far have relied on declining and expensive volumes from the North Sea. At Grangemouth construction of a new ethane import terminal and storage tank and infrastructure is well under way and should be completed in 2016. At Rafnes in Norway, a new ethane storage tank and terminal are approaching completion in time to be fully operational in 2015. “The ethane that we’re bringing to our sites from the US is essential to these plants,” added David Thompson. “As the most competitive feedstock in Europe it will be transformational for our operations. The two additional ships mean we can transport sufficient volumes of ethane to meet the demands of our manufacturing sites and continue to take advantage of significant cost benefits.” The Dragon Class ships are tailored to meet the specific needs of this project and are built to the latest specifications matching the highest environmental and efficiency performance levels. They are the largest, most flexible and advanced multi-gas carriers yet to be built. They will provide INEOS with a flexible solution for their ethane supplies with the option of transporting LNG, LPG as well as petrochemical gases including ethylene. www.ineos.com/sites/grangemouth

For its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety, the WP Group has once again been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor. “To achieve this accreditation for yet another year demonstrates WP Group’s commitment to putting people first – staff, our clients and the public,” said Russell Fairchild, CQC director.  “The accreditation enhances the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety is viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.” WP Group employs over 100 people and has an annual turnover in excess of £200 million. Its most recent clients have included major players such as Thames Water and other blue chip corporations. Setting an example A third party accreditation scheme, Safecontractor recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors. The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. “More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that WP Group has done.” said John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor.  “The firm’s high standard has set an example which will hopefully be followed by other companies within the sector.” Under the scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website. Client organisations which sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation. www.safecontractor.com

Certas Energy has joined the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) as a full associate member. The associate scheme is aimed at further developing industry cooperation, dialogue and excellence in the areas of process safety and transportation on road and rail. Chris Hunt, UKPIA’s director general, said: “UKPIA welcomes Certas Energy as associate. Our associate scheme is designed to enhance and foster cooperation, learning and development.” Brian Worrall, corporate affairs director at Certas Energy, commented: “As one of the largest oil distributors in the UK, we endeavour to ensure that we are represented on, and involved with, the key industry bodies for our sector. As a membership organisation, UKPIA can ensure that the issues facing the petrol industry are addressed and supported by the UK Government and its members.” Certas Energy provided diesel for around 60 ships taking part in The Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival which took place over four sites around the south coast. Head of marine at Certas Gary Byers, said: The festival was a great success and it was so rewarding to be a part of it and provide the fuel for many of the incredible ships that took part in the event.” www.certasenergy.co.uk

A group of young people from Teesside were given an exciting opportunity to visit Europe’s largest port with the help of the High Tide Foundation. High Tide members, Vopak hosted a fact-filled trip on the River Tees whilst Huntsman and Tata Steel took the 11 students from four local schools on a tour of their Teesside facilities with PD Ports also giving an exciting insight into the important role Teesport plays as a major hub for trade with key European and worldwide markets. Sailing with P&O Ferries, the students spent two days in Rotterdam where they saw at first-hand how one of the busiest ports in the world operates, as well as gaining an understanding of the many varied roles available in the maritime industry as a whole. “What better way to learn about the importance of Teesside’s industrial platform and how it connects with other ports and global markets than to experience it in person,” said Kevin Shakesheff, High Tide Foundation chairman. “We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity the companies involved have provided as without them this trip wouldn’t be possible.” www.hightidefoundation.co.uk

Wincanton has strengthened its position in the UK energy sector with the renewal of its contract with Total. The three year contract – the third in a row between the two companies – means that Wincanton will continue to manage Total’s maintenance warehouse facility at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire. Under the terms of the agreement Wincanton retains responsibility for the management and control of Total’s warehouse facilities containing around 31,000 stored units used in the refinery’s repair and maintenance. Wincanton will also continue to have responsibility for receiving deliveries, kit preparation, project control, stock audit, inspection functions and on-site chemical and gas deliveries. According to Chris Kingshott, Wincanton’s managing director for manufacturing, the company’s commitment to working in close partnership with its customers to help increase productivity and efficiency, coupled with its health and safety record, were key factors in securing the contract renewal “Like us, Total is a business synonymous with extremely high levels of health and safety,” he said. “What’s more, its success worldwide is built upon a culture of continuous improvement and astute cost management, goals very much aligned with our own and a major factor in our two businesses’ long and successful partnership.” As part of its commitment to encourage more young people to look at the logistics sector as viable career options, Wincanton will place two apprentices on the Total contract.

Phillips 66 has upgraded its extranet portal ready for the launch of a complementary mobile pricing app. ‘My Phillips 66’ has been developed by the company as a data delivery mechanism for customers across its entire retail, wholesale, aviation, LPG and marine network. ‘My Phillips 66’ replaces the previous CPNet. The new portal provides customers with personalised business content, such as invoices, daily prices and lifting allocation details. It also contains up-to-date industry news, HSE related content and information on supply locations. Final work is currently underway on the development and imminent launch of a complementary ‘My Phillips 66’ app for use on android and Apple devices. Initially, the app will give users instant access to pricing information but will have the facility for future add-ons and enhancements. Pete George, managing director of Phillips 66 UK & Ireland marketing, commented: “While CPNet still performed a useful role, it was running on outdated software architecture and was no longer supported on a number of web browsers.  We approached our customers to get their feedback on what functions they wanted to see in an upgraded extranet. “With ‘My Phillips 66’, users will be able to choose from both a desktop website and a mobile app experience for pricing.” He added: “It provides our customers on-the-spot access to personalised, business-critical information and puts them in control of how they gather data from us. We’re confident that we’ve developed a solid foundation on which to upgrade and add on extra features in the future as our and our customers’ needs change.” Customer training on ‘My Phillips 66’ is already underway using online videos and face to face guidance. www.phillips66.com

Michael Cundy, appointed managing director of Suttons’ tanker division Suttons Group has announced the appointment of Michael Cundy as the new managing director for its UK based road tanker division. Michael has worked for Suttons Group since 2005 and previously held the position of HR director which also included overseeing safety, health, environment, quality (SHEQ) and commercial workshop functions. He has been a main board director at Suttons for the past five years and, says Group CEO John Sutton, “an integral driving force behind the company’s recent string of acquisitions and year-on-year growth.” “I am particularly pleased to announce Michael’s appointment. He is a highly respected and experienced member of the Suttons’ leadership team and his contribution since joining the group board has been significant,” says John Sutton. “Michael will bring an extra dimension to our UK tankers business and his knowledge and skills will be essential as we look to considerably grow the road tanker logistics business, both in the U.K. and Europe.” Commenting on his appointment, Michael says: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Suttons’ tanker division at such an exciting time. Suttons has a strong reputation in the marketplace, committed to innovation through its product offerings and developing customer focussed solutions. I will be looking at how we can take this to the next level by enhancing the services we provide and to our customers with a focus on service, innovation, flexibility and safety.”www.suttonsgroup.com

JET has increased its presence in north east England through new contracts with Penny Petroleum. Seven new sites have joined the network and a further three sites have signed retie deals. Owned by David Penny, Penny Petroleum has a portfolio of 25 retail sites, the majority of which are located in the north of England. David has operated three sites under the JET brand since 2009 and has now also moved seven recently acquired sites over to the brand. All ten JET-branded sites have a combined fuel volume of 30 million litres annually and are supplied by Phillips 66 from Teesside terminal. The sites are now in the new JET livery. David Penny commented: “I’ve worked with JET for five years now and have always found them really easy to deal with and very flexible in terms of meeting my needs as a business owner. The three sites that we already had with JET were performing very well, so when choosing a brand for the other sites, it was an easy decision to go with JET.” Carl Smaller, territory manager for JET, added: “North east England has been a core retail region for Phillips 66 for many decades so we are delighted to expand our network coverage in this region with these new site wins. David is clearly operating a very successful business model and we very much look forward to welcoming these sites into our dealer network and building this relationship further in the future.”

David Blevings, Ireland manager of OFTEC As Northern Ireland’s energy companies joined together to celebrate Energy Aware Week last week, OFTEC issued an “energy savings challenge” to householders that could help them save up to £50 per month on their energy bills. Energy Aware Week, which ran from 13th – 19th October, is a joint initiative by Northern Ireland energy companies to increase awareness of energy efficiency and provide homeowners with practical help and advice to make their money go further. As part of the campaign, OFTEC issued the following money-saving tips, challenging local householders to be more energy efficient and to help cut their energy bills by £50 per month:·      Turn your thermostat down – try and keep the room at 19°C. Increasing room temperature by only 1°C, can increase heating costs by 10%, whilst reducing temperature by 1°C can save almost £6 per month.·      Service your boiler – by servicing your boiler, you could improve your overall efficiency by 10%, saving up to £100 per year.·      Turning off standby – by properly switching off those appliances that often sit on standby at the mains, householders can make a saving of £4 per month -almost £50 a year.·      Swap to energy saving light bulbs – switching from regular to energy saving light bulbs can save £55 per year, almost £5 per month.·      Be water efficient – by taking a shower instead of a bath and you’ll use a lot less hot water, and with a water-efficient head to your shower, you could save about £75 a year on your energy bill, around £6 per month. Additional measures suggested by OFTEC that homeowners can take to ensure even greater long-term cost savings include:·      Consider switching to a condensing boiler – this change could reduce the annual oil bill by 18% – a cost saving of £21 per month and £259 per annum for a typical 3 bedroom house.·      Fit heating controls – simple control measures, including a 7 day programmer with room and cylinder thermostats and a motorised control, allows separate hot water and space heating. The installation of these controls could mean a reduction in the fuel bill of up to 30%.·      Insulate your home – cavity wall insulation can lead to a monthly saving of almost £10.·      Fit draught stripping across doors – eliminating small draught gaps can lead to a saving of around £100 a year, or £8 per month. David Blevings, Ireland manager of OFTEC commented: “Energy Aware Week is all about highlighting the ways that homeowners can become more energy smart. The week is a chance to inform homeowners on the small changes they can make to cut their energy bills, often at no cost. There are additional measures homeowners can also take which do require initial investment, but these can provide even greater savings in the long term.” Energy Aware Week is supported by a range of partners, including OFTEC, Phoenix Gas, Bryson Energy, Firmus Energy, Glow Worm, Grant Boilers, Power NI, SSE Airtricity, Valliant and Worcester.