The Bulletin
Inside
Inside 4
Welcome
7
Editorial
8
Business Manager
8
New Members
11
Publications Information
12
News
30
Holiday Corner
32
Press Releases
52
OPW Products Work Together to Provide Fit and Forget Above Ground Remote Fill Solution
44
Ask the Experts
56
How Fuelsuite Revolutionised FuelManagement for Viva Energy
62
APEA Live 2017 Conference, Exhibition and Awards Dinner
66
Branches
70
Training
Front cover: Petrol station on the west coast of Ireland Published by the APEA (The Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration) A company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 2261660.
Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the Association. The technical content is not an official endorsement by or on behalf of the APEA and are entirely the views of the author’s.
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Welcome
Welcome more about what we do. There was much talk about future fuels and fuel labelling, including CNG, Hydrogen, EV and AdBlue with the need to develop an infrastructure where the motorist can easily top up from a dispenser.
Anton Martiniussen APEA Chairman Welcome to the latest edition of the Bulletin which is full of current news affecting our industry which we hope you will find interesting. There has been a general election in the UK which has brought about its own uncertainties. In the business environment, economic stability and balance is important to maintain business confidence, as is a steady exchange rate, enabling manufacturers and industry to succeed at home and abroad. The draft Blue Book has been out for comment so hopefully by now you will have read through it and made your comments known for this important publication. As an association we need to ensure that we provide clear and correct guidance to our industry on safety and best practice. I am delighted to welcome all new members to the APEA; we also have some joining from abroad. I had the pleasure of meeting representatives of the Nordic SPT association in Stockholm recently. They have members in Norway, Sweden and Denmark and have similar aims to our own. They are a not for profit organisation, and offer some interesting training courses to their members and local industry. They would welcome having closer collaboration with APEA members. In May I attended a business event in Amsterdam and met many organisations who were interested in the APEA and wanted to hear
Chairman of Publishing Committee Louise Morgan Tel/fax: +44 (0) 845 678 0790 Mobile: +44 (0) 7789 744281 email: louisemorgan@petrocom.co.uk
Editor Brian Humm Mobile: +44 (0) 7507 478533 email: b.humm@outlook.com 4
Council members are busy preparing for APEA Live 2017 on November 23rd. This year we are back at the MK Stadium in Milton Keynes and we are all excited to see the event take shape. It takes a huge amount of effort by Alex Boudry and his team to get it organised. Many thanks to all those involved in the Events Committee who give of their time so freely and to our partners in this event, F2F. Save the day and mark it in your diary! Book a table for your guests or come and listen to the speakers and visit the many exhibitors to see and inform yourself about what is new. Entry is free to the conference and exhibition. If you intend to stay over you might want to book your hotel room now as they are filling up quickly. We hope you will be excited to see the fresh event with interesting topics. Check on the website from time to time for updates. I would urge all local authorities to send their personnel involved in petrol filling stations to this event. It is an invaluable day out and benefits the Authority from the knowledge gained. Don’t forget to enter the awards. These are judged by an independent judging panel and not by the APEA or council. For these awards we rely on your participation in nominating individuals, companies or technologies that you feel should receive them. If you are unsure of any aspect of how the entry should be submitted there will be sample entries to assist you. My thanks goes to Brian Humm, Bulletin Editor and Jane Mardell, APEA Business Manager who diligently produce the Bulletin. They are always keen to receive articles or stories for publication so if you have anything please share it with us. If you have any ideas or suggestions to help the association or would like to become involved, please do not hesitate to contact me at anton.martiniussen@elaflex.co.uk.
APEA Business Manager (contact for Bulletin advertising, design and typesetting) Jane Mardell APEA, PO Box 106 Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3XT Tel/fax: +44 (0) 345 603 5507 Mobile: +44 (0) 7815 055514 email: admin@apea.org.uk
Find us on Linkedin APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Editorial
Editorial for 35 years and I do not deem to know it all, not by a long chalk!
Brian Humm Editor Welcome to the September edition of the Bulletin, I hope you have all had a relaxing summer break and are raring to go into the busy autumn period. Firstly, following the terrorist attack in Manchester, the three terrorist incidents in London and the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in West London, I would like to convey my deep condolences to all those caught up in these horrific events and to praise all the emergency services involved in their handling of all aspects of these terrible tragedies, to cope with the horror that has emerged takes enormous courage, skill and integrity, I’m sure that all our members will have similar thoughts and feelings in regards to this topic. In this edition you will find all the usual mix of news, articles, Ask the Experts and the ever popular Holiday Corner photographs, I often mention during training courses that Jamie Thompson takes photographs all over the world during his holiday jaunts. It is plain to see that the “bug” has firmly implanted itself into members of the association as the number of submissions has been increasing since the slot was introduced to the Bulletin, please keep up the good work, I for one find it increasingly interesting to see the different aspects of petrol storage/dispensing throughout the UK and the world. As usual I would once again like to ask that members consider submitting articles, news items, press releases or even suggestions for interview victims or topics that they would like to see covered, this edition has taken a lot of concerted effort to produce and it would be nice to have more contribution from the membership as after all it is the members that benefit from the publication. I am sure that some people may read the news etc. and think “I wonder how that works?” or “I wonder what happens when?” please consider this when you are reading through this current edition and let me or Jane know if anything has come to mind. Please do not be shy in coming forward, I always comment when carrying out training courses that no question is a stupid question, we all start learning somewhere, remember I have been in this industry
It is that time of year again when the date of the APEA Conference, Exhibition and Dinner is fast approaching, if you haven’t considered booking a place then please see the information on page 62 in this edition. You will see that this year we have a great line up and a record number of exhibitors lined up so it will be a fantastic showcase for you and maybe your company to network amongst consummate industry professionals and maybe garner some work or projects along the way. It really is worth considering, for the regulators amongst you then I believe that attendance at the conference as a minimum is a must, this attracts CPD allowance alone and the topics are always original, fresh and current so I urge all of the regulators to please attend and see what is new and/or innovative in the industry. Further news on the revision of the Blue Book, I have literally just received an email requesting a stakeholders meeting with the Energy Institute, this is scheduled to take place before September and members will obviously be kept informed of the progress as to the proposed publication. This revision hasn’t proved as straight forward as some parties envisaged and the timetable has been extended twice, this however isn’t unusual in that the last revision was published over a year later than expected. It is not uncommon, I believe however that it will be worth waiting for because I for one still use it on more or less a weekly basis in consultations, as I said earlier, I don’t profess to know it all. It is nice to see that the APEA training courses are still being delivered and gratefully received, I currently get involved in the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 course and the three day combined Construction and Audit course, the training is always well received and the delegates always leave with a sense of fulfilment and learning. They also leave with the email and phone number of the trainers that have delivered their course, a valuable tool in my opinion, I regularly receive emails from delegates, sometimes years after attending a course, requesting either my advice or opinion upon something out of the ordinary that has cropped up in the part of the industry in which they operate. Sometimes something happens and is reported in the national news and then I get inundated, for instance when the explosion from a disused tank, reported in the last issue, I received four phone calls on that day alone, the APEA delivers good quality training in various topics and can, if required, design a course that suits a particular requirement, why not consider some training? Must go now, enjoy this issue, until next time...
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Business Manager/New Members
Business Manager APEA AGM 23rd November, 1.15pm With this issue of the Bulletin you have received an AGM invitation letter and a nomination form.
Jane Mardell Business Manager I hope you are enjoying the summer. At the time of writing we have have had lovely weather in the South East with the occasional downpour. I have had a lovely holiday in Andalucia in June, traveling around five different villages and towns by train and bus with a friend and then finished with 6 days horse riding and yoga which I am passionate about. Beautiful part of unspoilt Spain and hardly any British tourists! A few months to go until APEA Live 2017 at Milton Keynes and the APEA Events committee and F2F Events are working hard to get everything in place. There is a lot of work that goes into organising APEA Live behind the scenes to provide a professional and valuable event. Please ensure you pre-register your attendance; you can do this by going to www.apea.org.uk and clicking on the link for APEA Live. Access to the exhibition and conference is FREE but you will need to pre-register. For more information go to page 62 of this issue of the Bulletin. Please also ensure you book your accommodation early as this gets booked well in advance. 2018 Yearbook The 2018 Yearbooks will be distributed on 1st October. If you have not received your copy by the end of October please let me know and I will chase up your delivery. We only have a limited amount of spare copies so you need to contact me by the end of October if you have not received your copy. All Yearbooks sent to Corporate members will be sent by courier.
Instructions on how to nominate to council are detailed on the nomination form. This can be completed electronically and emailed to the Honorary Secretary as well as sending by post. You can also download the form and the APEA 2016 reduced accounts from this link www.apea.org.uk/abbreviated-accounts. You will need your website log on details to view the files. AGM Nominations to council All members should submit their nominations by 12th October to the Honorary Secretary. If there is more than one person nominated for a post instructions will be emailed to members on how to vote for their preferred choice. This process has to be completed two weeks before the AGM on 23rd November. If you would like to attend the AGM please email me at admin@apea.org.uk to pre-register your attendance. Members email addresses APEA communication to members is carried out by email. If you have not added your email address to your membership record please either email me your address to add, or log on to your account and add it yourself. This will ensure you do not miss out on information about APEA activity. New Members There have been 19 new members joining during April, May and June and details can be found below. General Assistance If you need any assistance with general or technical matters, please do not hesitate to contact me at admin@apea.org.uk or on 0345 603 5507. Regards Jane
New Members April
Ashraf Michail Lex Management Solutions Limited 8 Wentworth Hall The Ridgeway, ill Hill London NW7 1RJ Derek Morgan
DME Engineers Ltd 1 Bryntirionm, Pontyberem Llanelli Carms SA15 5BX Lisa Hood 33 St James Road Isle of Grain APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Rochester Kent ME3 0BU Theofilos Papadopoulos Makedonias 11, Thessaloniki 54642 Greece
New Members
May
Peter Robinson PJR Pumps Chiltons 54 Main Street Coddington, Newark on Trent Notts NG24 2PP David Rose Artelia (Pty) Ltd A13 Westlake Square, Westlake Drive Tokai Cape Town 7945 South Africa Adrian Beeby Alfons Haar UK Ltd Unit N1 Gildersome Spur Morley, Leeds West Yorkshire LS27 7JZ
Paul Firth Petrol Sign c/o MSI Balby Carr Bank Doncaster South Yorkshire DN4 8DH
June
Tom Chicken Fuel Cell Systems, Station Yard Hungerford Berkshire RG17 0DY
Jan Ozimkowski Pixie House 2 Double Lodges Little Wolford Shipston on Stour Warwickshire CV36 5HA
James Cofone RED Woolverstone House 61 Berners St London W1T 3NJ
Clare Cunningham Thurrock Council Civic Offices, New Road Grays RM17 6SL
Kevin McFadyen Harry Walters & Livesey Ltd Spar Distribution Centre Bowland View, Preston Lancashire PR2 5QT
Daniel Meenan Derry City & Strabane District Council 98 Strand Road Derry Londonderry BT47 8NN
James Shenton Tuffa UK Ltd Dovefields Industrial EstateDerby Road Uttoxeter Staffordshire ST14 8SW APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
John Clewlow Clewlow Electrical Ltd 51 Spring Gardens Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8DD
Michael Draper 35 Acacia Avenue Woolston Warrington Cheshire WA1 4EN David Thompson 3 Belliston Place Arncroach Anstruther Fife KY10 2RJ Louise Black Gexcon UK, Suite 11-13 Hattersley House Ormskirk L39 2AY 9
Publications Information
Publications Information 3rd Edition of the Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations - ‘Blue Book’ (Revised June 2011) The guide is available in hard copy and also as a pdf download. APEA Member rate - hardcopy £70, pdf £70 plus vat Non APEA Member rate - hardcopy £140, pdf £140 plus vat If you wish to purchase the guide please go to the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk and click on the ‘Publications’ page. You can select to pay by credit/debit card or by cheque or bank transfer. If you pay by cheque or bank transfer your order will be sent out once payment has been received. All card payment orders are sent out next day. The 4th Edition is due for publication early in 2018. The APEA also publishes the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks. This can be downloaded directly from the APEA website and is available to members at £11.00 and £21.00 to non APEA members.
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Publications Information Bulletin Magazine • The Bulletin is published four times a year with a print run of 2200. • Free issue to APEA members (approx 1200 members worldwide) • Has international distribution and readership • Respected source of industry specific news and information • Contains relevant news items and reports from overseas • Individual, Fellow and Retired members receive one copy each and Corporate members receive 5 copies each per quarter. The editor of The Bulletin, Brian Humm, is always on the look out for new material, so if you have something you want to be included, please email it to the APEA office at admin@apea.org.uk and it will be forwarded to Brian for approval. Please email the text in Word format and any images as separate high resolution pdf or jpeg files to admin@apea.org.uk.
We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that the Bulletin remains an interesting and informative read.
Deadline dates for copy and advertising artwork 2017 and 2018 Issue
Copy deadline
Posting date
Dec 2017
25th Sept
10th Nov
Mar 2018
11th Dec
16th Feb
June 2018
26th Mar
11th May
Sept 2018
25th June
17th Aug
Dec 2018
24th Sept
9th Nov
Bulletin Advertising Discounts are available for booking in more than one issue, please contact Jane Mardell at admin@apea.org.uk for more information. Bulletin advertisers that book in 3 or more issues in one year also receive a 50% discount off rates for advertising in the annual Yearbook, see table. If you would like to book advertising in the Bulletin, please email your requirements to admin@apea.org.uk or call the office on 0345 603 5507. Please ensure you send your artwork to admin@apea.org.uk.
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News Person killed following explosion at filling station The explosion in Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, Barcelona, caused a fire just as workers carried out maintenance on a tank, according to police. One person died and another was seriously injured after an explosion at a petrol garage. The explosion caused a fire as workers carried out maintenance on a tank, according to police. It is thought the explosion happened in the underground petrol tanks as the workers were placing lining in the tanks to prevent leaks. The explosion is thought to have happened in the gas tanks underground where the men were working. The body of the man who died was found after difficulty accessing it. Emergency services were able to rescue the other victim after the horrifying explosion in the Spanish city. It was initially reported 12
two men had died, but it has been confirmed that one was killed in the explosion while the other was badly injured. Reports suggest he was revived by emergency services after sustaining serious injuries. People were asked not to approach the garage as a cordon was put in place. The explosion reportedly sparked a large fire which sent plumes of black smoke into the air. The seriously injured worker, reported to be 27, was flown from the gas station in a helicopter after emergency services were scrambled to the scene. It is thought the explosion happened in the underground petrol tanks as the workers were placing lining in the tanks to prevent leaks. The explosion is thought to be a tragic accident and not related to terror.
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
UK News
Petrol station dispenses water Drivers were left stranded after a Liverpool petrol station reportedly started dispensing water. Motorists said they were left unable to drive their vehicles as their engines failed just metres from the pumps at Clean Energy on Prescot Road in Old Swan. Work appeared to be taking place at the petrol station to fix the affected pumps. Jo Roberts, who lives a couple of minutes away from the petrol station, said she went to fill up her car at around
1pm when employees ran out telling her to stop. She said: “I just want to let people know so it doesn’t happen to anyone else, it could be dangerous. “I went to fill up at ten past one and just as I started pumping two people ran out and told me to stop. “Luckily, I had only put about two pounds in when they ran out and told me to stop, but another driver didn’t even get 25 yards away before he had stalled and come to a standstill.”
Tesco received record fines of £8million plus costs for large leak of petrol Tesco has been served with two fines totalling £8 million after it pleaded guilty to leaking thousands of litres of petrol into sewers and a local river in northern England. Preston Crown Court ordered the company to pay the fines and costs pertaining to an incident in July 2014, when about 23,500 litres of fuel escaped over 29 hours from a pressure pipe served by a submersible pump at one of Tesco’s petrol stations in Haslingden, Lancashire. The leak sparked an operation involving the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council, United Utilities, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Police and forced local residents to leave their homes due to the smell of fuel after It flowed into the drainage system. An investigation found the incident "resulted from Tesco's failure to address a known issue of the failure of equipment and also an inadequate alarm system which was also compounded by poor emergency procedures". Investigations into the incident found that a number of items had not been designed, installed and maintained correctly with the leak detection equipment in a high risk site proving totally inadequate. In addition, as the petrol was pumped out of the tank by the submersible pump to the pressure pipe, it flowed out from the tank chamber into the surrounding soil causing these major problems. Lancashire Petroleum inspectors said some residents had to seek medical attention due to headaches and sickness and others had to leave their houses as a result of the leak. Petrol also entered Langwood Brook and the River Irwell, polluting the watercourse and killing fish. Samples from the River Irwell detected oil up to three miles downstream while more than 40 dead fish, including brown trout, were found within 1.5 miles of where the petrol entered.
Environment Agency and Lancashire County Council. “This pollution incident had a dramatically negative impact on the local community and the environment with Langwood Brook and the River Irwell severely affected,” the Environment Agency’s Mark Easedale said. “A week after the pollution incident an investigation by Environment Agency officers found fish populations in the River Irwell immediately downstream of Langwood Brook were around 90 per cent lower than those found upstream.” A Tesco spokesman said: “We sincerely regret the fuel spillage incident at our petrol station in Haslingden and we’re sorry for the impact it had on the local environment, our customers and the community. “This was a deeply unfortunate, isolated incident and one for which we have taken full responsibility. “Following the incident, we have inspected all relevant petrol stations, introduced a new real-time monitoring system and made a number of further improvements to protect against similar incidents happening again.” Tesco are also reported to be removing all pressurised pumping systems from their network in order to reduce the risk. Big companies pay big fines We are seeing the impact of the new Sentencing Guidelines for environmental offences and for health and safety offences, both of which link the size of the fine to the turnover of the business. The objective is clear: for large businesses, fines need to be large to send a message to the management and shareholders on the importance of preventing environmental incidents such as this one. Under both Guidelines, turnover becomes a very significant factor in sentencing, meaning that large businesses that make mistakes may well receive much greater financial penalties than those who have greater culpability but operate smaller businesses.
Anglers also reported dead fish six miles downstream in Bury.
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Tesco Stores Ltd pleaded guilty and was fined a record £5 million for a health and safety offence and £3 million for an environmental offence.
A central pillar of the case brought by Lancashire County Council and the EA was that Tesco was aware of an underlying issue of the failure of some flexible joints but had not taken steps to address it.
Tesco was also ordered to pay costs of more than £57,000 to the
The Environment Agency criticised Tesco's 'poor emergency
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
UK News
procedures' which it claimed 'compounded' the problem. This was a major leak of fuel in a relatively built-up area and close to a busy superstore. The potential consequences are only too obvious. The fact that the leak was allowed to continue for more than 24 hours undoubtedly contributed to a risk of harm to people living and working nearby, as well as emergency services and other professionals attending the incident. • Tesco Stores Ltd were fined a total of £8million at Preston Crown Court - £5million for the health and safety charge and £3million for the environmental offence. They were also ordered to pay Environment Agency costs of £35,434.30 and (approx.) £22,000 to Lancashire County Council. • Tesco Stores Ltd pleaded guilty to causing a water discharge activity not under and to the extent APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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UK News authorised by an Environmental Permit, contrary to Regulation 12(1)(b) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2010. A guilty plea was entered at an earlier hearing at Burnley Crown Court on 12 September 2016. • There was a further indictment led by Lancashire County Council: Contravention of Regulation 6(8) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 contrary to s.33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. A guilty plea was also entered for this charge.
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APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
UK News
Man dies following freak accident involving static Tributes have been paid to a man who died after sustaining severe burns in a freak accident at his home, where he had been draining the tank of a vehicle following a small petrol leak. During the incident, at Yeoford near Crediton, the fleece jacket and trousers of 84-year-old Fred Saunders became covered in fuel, and, it is understood, his clothes ignited through static electricity as he rubbed his hands on his clothing. His partner, Sue Read, was at the scene and able to put out the flames and call the emergency services. A fire crew from Crediton was called to the scene at about 7.30pm on Sunday, April 16. Mr Saunders was treated at the scene before being taken by the Devon and Cornwall Police helicopter to Southmead Hospital at Bristol. Mr Saunders died with his family at his side. Sue Read said that Fred had enjoyed a Sunday at Hatherleigh Auto-Jumble and watching the Grand Prix racing on television before he started working on his camper van. She was full of praise for all those who had helped Fred, including the firefighters, paramedics, ambulance staff, police and the nurses at the hospital. "Everyone was brilliant and they all deserve congratulations," she said. Fred's daughter Marion Aubry told the Crediton Courier: "The treatment my father received was secondto-none. I cannot praise the hospital staff enough. "They ensured he was in no pain and were so caring and thoughtful." Chris Aubry, Marion's husband, said: "Fred was the former landlord of the Mare and Foal pub in Yeoford, but had also been a sailor, pilot, farmer and even kept Shire horses. "He was a former racing car driver competing in Formula 5000, Formula Vee and was Formula Vee Champion in 1969. "He previously told me 'I have had a really good life and done pretty much everything'”.
Huge fire from diesel storage near Gatwick Airport On 27th June a huge inferno erupted at an oil and gas factory sending flames more than 100ft into the air as authorities declared a major incident. About 60 firefighters and 12 engines were called to the blaze overnight as eight tanks of red diesel and oil were ignited and sent massive plumes of smoke into the air six miles from Gatwick Airport. The massive fire broke out just after 1.15am at the Rowfant Business Park in Crawley Downs, West Sussex. A fire service spokesman said there were no reports of any injuries. Photographer Eddie Howland, who works with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said the huge flames were taller than the extended platform used to extinguish it. He said: "The flames were leaping about 100ft into the air, and there were a lot of storage tanks on fire and exploding gas cylinders. "The platform was 32 metres and the flames and smoke were well above that. "There were three water carriers, a high pressure pumping unit, and a specialist APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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International News appliance from the airport came which is massive, it makes the engines look tiny - and sorted it out towards the end. "It's in a fairly remote area near the airport."
incident in total. "At its height, there were 12 engines at the scene,
A spokeswoman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "We received the first call at 1:15am, and had 13 calls to the
to ensure the environment is protected, and any complications
and there are currently four crews left supported by specialist appliances. "We are working closely with the Environment Agency with the watercourse are accounted for.
Oil traders led by Vitol boost their ownership of petrol stations The world’s biggest independent oil trader is doubling down on a strategy that some leading crude producers have all but abandoned — owning petrol stations.
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trading houses to buy large volumes of oil from Iraqi Kurdistan.
Vitol, the privately owned company that has grown under chief executive Ian Taylor into a 6m barrel a day oil trader finalised its second largest acquisition by agreeing to pay €1.4bn for Petrol Ofisi, a Turkish company that owns more than 1,700 filling stations.
But the expansion of Vitol’s petrol station operations — it began buying such assets six years ago — is at the centre of a bet by the Netherlands-registered company that it can use its global network of ships, storage terminals and contacts to supply the Turkish facilities at lower costs than OMV, the Austrian oil producer and current owner of Petrol Ofisi.
Selling petrol, diesel and takeaway coffee to motorists may seem a prosaic business compared with some of Vitol’s more eyecatching deals, such as its move in 2015 to become one of the first
“This isn’t a new a strategy,” says Chris Bake, the Vitol executive who led the Turkish deal, which has attracted financial backing from the investment vehicle of veteran hedge fund manager
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
International News George Soros. “We have always tried to find assets that complement the core trading business.”
trading acumen, which gives them a higher return than the oil companies,” adds Mr Pirrong.
Vitol is not the only oil trader beefing up its presence in petrol retailing. Last year Trafigura announced plans to buy a 24 per cent stake in Essar Oil, the Indian oil producer, giving the Singaporebased company access to 2,700 filling stations in India.
Evidence of the lucrative opportunities comes from how in 2014 Vitol joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, the Gulf sovereign wealth fund, to finalise the trading house’s largest ever deal: the $2.6bn purchase of Shell’s petrol stations in Australia.
Trafigura has had a significant presence in these stations since the late 1990s, mainly through a subsidiary called Puma Energy that has facilities across much of Africa. Glencore, the Swiss trader cum miner, this month made its first move into petrol retailing by unveiling plans to invest $200m in a Mexican joint venture. These forays by trading houses into filling stations have coincided with a retreat from the same area by some oil majors including Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil. While the facilities often still carry oil producers’ branding, many have been spun off to different owners, as these majors focus on production and refining. Craig Pirrong, a professor at the University of Houston, says big trading houses were able to use their size to supply petrol stations at lower costs compared to oil producers. In the past this was not possible because fuel markets were not sufficiently developed, but things have changed. “[Trading houses] can supply retail outlets more efficiently due to their size and
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Three years earlier, Vitol and Helios Investment Partners, an investment firm, agreed to pay $1bn for Shell’s petrol stations in Africa. Vitol has also bought filling station assets in Europe under the Varo brand. With the Petrol Ofisi deal due to complete in the third quarter, Vitol should own more than 4,500 petrol stations worldwide. In Turkey, Vitol aims to tap into two major trends: first, the country’s fast-growing population and, second, the advent of large refineries just outside the Mediterranean basin that are pumping out huge supplies of cheap petrol and diesel. Vitol plans to retain the Petrol Ofisi brand, which it says is the oldest petrol station name in the country, and the most trusted. Vitol bought Shell's Australian petrol stations in 2014 © Bloomberg.
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
International News Like Australia and much of Africa, Turkey is a “short” — trading house jargon for a country that is heavily dependent on imported refined fuels. It is this situation that presents Vitol with opportunities for high returns: it can use its trading muscle and relationships with oil producers to supply Petrol Ofisi.
The latter option means Vitol can source fuel from giant refineries owned by Saudi Aramco and India’s Reliance Industries. Mr Bake says Vitol, which has enjoyed a couple of years of bumper profits, has the appetite for more deals but acknowledges transactions such as Petrol Ofisi do not come along very often.
“Turkey is a significant importer,” says Mr Bake. “Logistically it’s in an interesting location.”
“The chance to buy countrywide networks that are well run .... that have a historical presence and are integral to the supply chain, those opportunities are few and far between,” he adds.
Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey can draw its fuel supplies from Russian oil producers to the north, or from refiners in the Middle East and India to the south.
“But we are in a fairly strong position at the moment. We have the ability to transact at this sort of level without stressing the balance sheet.”
Two killed in firework factory explosion Two people died and 15 were injured in a massive explosion at a gunpowder factory in southwest Poland. Police said the remains of two people were recovered from the ruins of a factory building which collapsed after the blast. Rescuers were combing rubble to check if any further victims were still buried. Four people were taken away by ambulances, while others who were injured received medical assistance at the site, in the
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village of Mąkolno. The victims were hit by flying shards. Twenty-two teams of firefighters were called to the scene of the blast, including a search and rescue group. The families of those who died were offered the help of psychologists. Polish media reported that a cloud of smoke was visible from a distance of several kilometres from the factory after the blast.
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
International News
Burton Fire Dept. contain petrol leak The Burton Fire Department in the USA responded to a fuel leak from a petrol pump after it was struck by a vehicle.
Materials Unit also responded to assist as did Beaufort County EMS.
Fire crews responded before 9:30pm to find petrol freely flowing from a damaged fuel pump at the Oxford BP gas station at 780 Parris Island Gateway. The leak began after the pump was struck by a vehicle.
Emergency crews were on the scene of the incident for over an hour and a half. Burton fire officials stress that fuel station managers take the opportunity to review emergency procedures with employees, as well as stocking the appropriate materials for fighting a fuel spill on site. The vehicle that struck the pump had left the scene by the time emergency crews arrived.
Firefighters secured the leak and ensured that the spill did not spread any further. The Parris Island Fire Department Hazardous
Applegreen eyes terminal acquisition Irish fuel retailer Applegreen has been granted permission to acquire a 50% stake in a Dublin fuel terminal for €15.7 million.
Applegreen currently operates in more than 200 locations, including 133 petrol stations in the Republic of Ireland and over 60 in the UK.
The approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission allows Applegreen to acquire Esso Ireland´s share in the fuel terminal located in Dublin´s port, reports RTE.
The acquisition, expected to be completed by mid-July, will allow Applegreen to import fuel directly from refineries and have an efficient supply chain.
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International News
Two killed in petrol pump fire in Salkia, West Bengal, India Two people were killed in a fire that broke out at a petrol forecourt in Howrah's Salkia in June. Police said that the office of the petrol pump caught fire after midnight. Local residents told the police that they heard some explosions inside the office room. They also spotted fire billowing out of the office room and rushed to the spot to find two persons who had suffered serious burns. The petrol station is situated in the Babudanga area of Salkia. The local residents rushed the injured victims to Howrah district hospital where the doctors declared them dead. Following an emergency call four fire tenders attended and started to tackle the fire. They brought the situation under control after one and a half hours. A local Councillor also attended and supervised the situation. The fire officials recovered a burnt stove and various other utensils from the room. The police and fire brigade officials suspect that the fire broke out whilst the forecourt staff were cooking some food. The local residents also told the police that cooking was done inside the room on a regular basis. The fire brigade officials are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. They managed to stop the fire from spreading to the other parts of the petrol forecourt. The investigation is still ongoing.
First LNG bunkering station unveiled PitPoint.LNG, a joint venture formed by PitPoint clean fuels and Primagaz Nederland BV, will build the first shore-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering station in Germany in the harbour of Cologne. It will serve the vessels that sail on the river Rhine, the busiest transport waterway in Europe, according to a company press release. In addition, it will bunker LNG for inland duel-fuel barges that Shell Western LNG B.V. has chartered. "Enabling companies such as Shell to transport and deliver their goods in a cleaner and more environmental friendly way supports PitPoint’s mission to realise 100% clean transport in 2030," said Jan Willem Drijver, Managing Director at PitPoint.LNG. PitPoint.LNG aims at developing a European infrastructure to promote LNG as fuel for road and marine transport. The realisation of this station is part of the CEF project Breakthrough LNG Deployment in Inland Waterway Transport which is co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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International News
Wrong fuel causes damage Woolworths has apologised to motorists after a fuel supply error at its Caltex Narellan service station in Australia which has caused potentially thousands of dollars worth of damage to an unknown number of vehicles. The wrong type of fuel was administered into diesel tanks at the service station, at the Camden Valley Way service station. The error was not identified until two days had passed. The diesel bowsers were not pumping diesel fuel. Wayne Walker, of Elderslie, said his three-week-old Mitsubishi Triton company vehicle was affected by the supply error, with his company ute spluttering down the Hume Highway towards Bowral.
“I filled up on the Wednesday before setting off to work at Bowral the next day,” he said. “It was coughing and spluttering the entire way up the freeway, when the car is only three weeks old.” Other drivers have raised similar problems on Facebook. A Woolworths spokesman apologised to all customers for the inconvenience caused. “Woolworths can confirm a supply error resulted in contaminated Vortex Diesel at our Narellan petrol station for a two day period” he said. “The affected fuel may in some cases cause vehicle engine idling or stalling and could pose a safety risk. Mr Walker said his Mitsubishi Triton was due for its first service the following Monday and did not drive his vehicle until that day. “I was lucky there wasn’t too much damage. It was $250 to drain the fuel lines which Woolworths was happy to reimburse,” he said.
Phoenix Petroleum new terminal unveiled
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Philippine independent oil company Phoenix Petroleum has opened its ninth terminal in the country and the largest in the region of Visayas, reports The Manila Times.
It will serve the expanding Phoenix retail fuel network in the province of Cebu as well as transportation and construction industries in the Visayas region.
Located in Consolacion, Cebu, the terminal has a capacity of 15 million litres and stores diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, special fuel oil, and industrial fuel oil.
In addition, the company has completed the construction of 515 service stations as of the first quarter, with more stations being constructed to be opened this year, according to a company press release.
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International News
Petrol stations disappearing in Massachusetts Massachusetts drivers had best keep a close watch on their car’s gas gauge these days. The number of gas stations across the state has plummeted over the past decade, with an even sharper decline in Greater Boston, making a quick fill-up harder to find. The city’s downtown area, in particular, has become somewhat of a gas station desert, forcing motorists to range farther afield to fill up their tanks. The number of Massachusetts gas stations dropped 12 percent between 2005 and 2014, according to data tracked by the US Census Bureau. In Greater Boston, the drop was 14 percent. Nationally, the decline was 5 percent.
QuikTrip plan 110 new stores in Texas QuikTrip, a chain of gas and convenience stores based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, announced plans to open 100 locations in Texas. Convenience and fuel retailer QuikTrip will open 100 stores in Austin and San Antonio, with the first to open by summer 2018. The company already operates 134 stores in Texas and more than 750 locations across 11 states. “Both San Antonio and Austin are really hot markets right now and we cannot wait to join the exciting landscape in those two great communities,” said QuikTrip CEO Chet Cadieux. QuikTrip locations have strong focus on food products as exemplified by its in-store QT Kitchens, which serve fresh, madeto-order food such as pizza, specialty drinks and frozen treats.
Man Imprisoned for falsifying road tanker tests A 72-year-old man who ordered employees to fake hazardous material certifications on a number of cargo tanks traveling Michigan roads will spend a year and a day in prison. Garald Bennett of Cass City received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington. In Bennett's time as manager of a cargo tank testing facility in Cass City, federal prosecutors say he ordered his subordinates to "repeatedly and falsely" certify cargo tanks used to transport liquid and gaseous bulk cargos, including explosive materials, without testing them. Bennett himself, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, also certified the cargo tanks without testing them and lied to clients by stating they had passed testing. The two tests in question that Bennett's company, LPG Service and Leasing LLC, was responsible for certifying were wet fluorescent magnetic particle and hydrostatic pressure tests. APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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International News The U.S. Attorney's Office could not be reached for more information on the tests. Federal prosecutors say some cargo tanks were not emptied and cleaned properly, making it impossible for
employees to enter the cargo tanks and test them. Nonetheless, they said, Bennett ordered employees to slap certification stickers onto the cargo tanks.
Pakistan fuel tanker inferno kills at least 150 A road tanker carrying fuel burst into flames near the Pakistani city of Ahmedpur East, killing at least 150 people on 25th June. Villagers had gathered, reportedly to collect fuel leaking from the crashed tanker, when it caught fire. Dozens are being treated in hospital. It appears the tanker blew a tyre while rounding a sharp bend in the road. The fire was sparked by a passer-by lighting a cigarette, a rescue services spokesman told the APP news agency. "The incident, which was a minor [one], turned into a major blast," commented a witness.
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cut short a visit to London in response to the incident, the Pakistani government news agency, APP, reported.
fears that the death toll could rise further.
Army helicopters were dispatched to ferry casualties to hospitals, army spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet. There are
Some of the victims may only be identified by DNA sampling, as the bodies were so badly burned in the incident, reports say.
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International News
A huge fire then erupted, engulfing all the people standing around the vehicle, they said. Emergency services have struggled to find burns units to treat the injured, APP says. The Ahmedpur Sharqia Health Centre and Bahawal Victoria Hospital have no such units, but some casualties were taken to Nishtar hospital in Multan and others to hospitals in the city of Bahawalpur, about 50km away. The country's roads are notoriously dangerous, with poor vehicle maintenance and reckless driving contributing to the problem.
Police sources told APP that the tanker had been transporting 25,000 litres (5,500 gallons) of fuel from Karachi to Lahore. It left the road and overturned in the Kachi Pul area, they said, about 8km (five miles) from Ahmedpur East, in Punjab's Bahawalpur district. Police sources said that people in nearby villages had rushed to the scene to collect fuel in pots, and also made phone calls to their relatives in other villages to come to collect the fuel. Traffic police had tried in vain to keep the crowds away from the tanker as local people, including women and children, continued collecting fuel, the sources said. APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Holiday Corner
Holiday Corner
Photo (below) taken by Clare Scawthorn, Petroleum Manager at London Fire Brigade of Vancouver Harbour Chevron filling station
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Photo (right) taken by Michael Lawler, the Technical Director of Swallowtail Print who print the Bulletin. He came across this fuel pump whilst on holiday in Ravenglass Cumbria
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Holiday Corner
Photos (right) from Jamie Thompson in Tasmania
Photo taken by Clare Scawthorn, Petroleum Manager at London Fire Brigade of False Creek floating filling station in Vancouver
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Press Releases
Press Releases Oasis and Elaflex teaming up - New Zealand based CNG component manufacturer Oasis becomes member of the Elaflex group In April 2017, ELAFLEX HIBY Tanktechnik, based in Hamburg (Germany) acquired a major stake in Oasis Engineering Ltd of Tauranga (New Zealand). Oasis is an internationally operating specialist for valves and couplings used in the compressed natural gas (CNG) industry. In the last decades, Oasis has established a strong reputation as supplier of CNG components and systems for filling stations and gas deli¬very networks. The company supplies standard products of their own design and customised or made-to-order engineering parts as required, to customers in over 40 countries. "This exciting partnership brings together two highly innovative companies, both well respected in the fuel handling world" says Andy Cameron, Managing Director of Oasis Engineering. "The
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result will be a tremendous improvement in the motorist’s userexperience for alternative fuels like CNG, hydrogen and biogas." Worldwide CNG trailer companies are rapidly adopting the new Oasis high flow breakaway and coupling systems. "These products were game changing for natural gas companies" says Mr Cameron "with them the whole economics of road transport for gas positively changed." Stefan Kunter, Managing Director of Elaflex: "The complementary product ranges mutually allow us to further expand our expertise with fluid energy transfer. As important, both organisations share similar values and visions such as our premium quality approach and close cooperation with customers, to constantly improve."
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Existing distribution structures will remain untouched. "There will be few changes, and only to the benefit of our customers" both managers state. Oasis will continue to independently operate, with unchanged staff and with Andy Cameron, as Oasis's managing director.
Further information please see: http://www.oasisngv.com
Stefan Kunter (Elaflex), Andy Cameron (Oasis) Oasis CNG equipment
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Press Releases
Hytek seek distributors worldwide Experienced suppliers of fuel and lubrication equipment Hytek (GB) Ltd, based near London Stansted Airport, are looking to open and develop long term business relationships with more international distributors to extend the reach of their product range. With over thirty years’ experience, Hytek offer their distributors a strong range of high quality products, some designed and engineered by the company, backed with full technical and customer support. Along with fast worldwide order fulfilment, thanks to over 6000 products permanently held in stock at the company’s 1,850 square metre, purpose built headquarters. Hytek design, assemble and test a wide range of fuel and lubrication products including fuel management systems, tank alarms, overfill valves, tank re-circulation kits and their own Hytek ALPHA commercial pump range that features ATEX certification. The Hytek ALPHA pump range and many other products can be personalised for the customer to feature their company name and branding - a key benefit for many distributors. Hytek also distribute products from many other industry leading petroleum equipment manufacturers. The company’s products are designed with worldwide applications in mind such as being able to perform effectively in a variety of different circumstances from extreme heat to severe cold and wet conditions. For example, in recent times Hytek have provided fuel management systems for use by the Icelandic fishing fleet located in harbours subject to the harsh North Atlantic conditions. All products carry at least a 12 month warranty while certain others, including the Hytek ALPHA pump range, feature a 24 month warranty. Hytek pride themselves on a full commitment to their distributors. Along with the fast delivery of products, no minimum order
quantities, the company offers extensive training and competitive pricing. As Andy Seal, Hytek’s sales director, commented: “we’re genuinely committed to forging strong, long term working relationships with our distributors. Along with providing top quality products, we offer industry leading support and back up before and after delivery.” For distributors who might like to meet the Hytek team, or take advantage of their product training offered at the company’s UK base, it’s easy to reach, as transport links are excellent. Along with an international airport, London Stansted, being right on Hytek’s doorstep at less than 3 miles (4 km) away, rail and road links are good with major motorway and arterial routes close at hand. To learn more about becoming a distributor for Hytek’s products or to request a catalogue, contact Hytek by email on: international@hytekgb.com, Skype: hytek.gb.ltd or by phone on +44(0)1279 815600.
Health emphasis for sign firm Sign company Xmo Strata – which specialises in forecourts – has mounted a major health drive amongst its employees. The sign installation and maintenance firm brought work to a standstill for one day whilst more than 50 employees from across the UK attended a health and safety day near to its Maidstone head office. The company’s 30+ site-based installation and maintenance crew members received a comprehensive medical check-up from qualified nurses during the day, advice on health related matters, and practical sessions which included (amongst other things) examinations of prosthetic breasts and testes. Employees were also challenged by Managing Director Steve Martin to complete one hundred million steps in the coming 12 months – monitored by FitBit watches issued free to those who took the challenge up. 34
“Our crews work in environments where safety is critical,” said Mr Martin. “Forecourts contain a mixture of fuel, potentially explosive vapours, electricity, and are exposed to the elements. The crews face speeding vehicles and frequently work at height, have to move heavy items, and operate on construction sites. They also drive long distances. Our desk-bound office staff face different health challenges. “Our annual health and safety day is normally more focused on safety, so this year we introduced a strong programme designed to improve long term health – and the response from employees was phenomenal, with nearly all of them taking up our FitBit challenge.” The company has produced two videos – a full report on the health strategy (www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT2ydMvomyo&t=5s ) and a short film focused specifically on the FitBit Challenge (www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLd8bcXE8GM&t=3s). Both films can be seen on Xmo Strata’s You Tube channel. For further information on Xmo Strata go to www.xmostrata.com.
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Press Releases
In T.E.A.M We Trust! Together. Eclipse. Achieves. More. Cameron forecourt has the perfect team of technology for all your fuel stock management site scenarios. The tank gauging and fuel monitoring solutions can harmonise the control and management of your fuelling activities at all your locations across the country or even the world.
business on a reliable and timely delivery service. It is this demanding service that requires total control over all of their operations; this need led them to chose the Cameron Forecourt’s triple approach to their fuel management needs. Running out of fuel is not an option.
By harmonising the world’s most accurate fuel tank gauging systems by Gilbarco Veeder Root, with the homegrown expertise of the latest fuel management systems by Jigsaw M2M; including the Eclipse/Nova and Tank Guard, Cameron Forecourt is able to provide the ultimate fuel stock management solution even with the most challenging of site layout. Teaming up these three technologies leaps the bounds of normal convention, overcoming the problems of location, distance and time in managing your commercial fuel storage and fuel usage, wherever it is and whatever time is it. Lenham Storage and Distribution needed this triple approach of accurate tank gauging facilitated by the unique Tank Guard, along with a superior fuel management solution to manage all of their fuel data in real time on any computer screen, at anytime. Lenham Storage and Distribution has two sites in the south, Andover and Maidstone. They operate a specialised food-grade distribution network with a daily nationwide service. Lenham was formed over 60 years ago and has built their reputation and APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Press Releases
Lenham Storage and Distribution first started using Cameron Forecourt to handle its fuelling equipment maintenance needs when Matthew Richards became the Operations Director. Matthew was familiar with the services and equipment provided by Cameron Forecourt from a previous position with another major haulage company where the Eclipse fuel management system was already being used. Matthew was happy with its performance and the control that the system gave him over fuelling operations. So when it became time to upgrade at Lenham Storage and Distribution he had no doubt as to which system and people he trusted. The Eclipse was installed in 2014 at both locations; Andover and Maidstone. Utilising the Eclipse’s remote GPRS feature and associated web based applications, Matthew and his colleagues can monitor the fuel pumps and tanks at either site, in real time, on any internet connected computer or mobile device from anywhere in the world. Following the installation of the Eclipse system it was recognised that ultimate control was possible by integrating the Eclipse with tank gauges to enable tank stock reconciliation. This presented a specific challenge though; at Maidstone the bulk storage tank was located some 150 yards from the fuel pumps. Traditionally the only reliable solution would be to dig across the yard to install a cable and connect the tank gauge to the Eclipse terminal, an expensive and disruptive operation. Cameron Forecourt’s Southern Account Manager, Clive Brewerton,
had the perfect solution; the TLS electronic tank gauging system linked into Jigsaw’s cloud based fuel management applications using the Tank Guard system. Clive explains, “The TLS system is a world class tank gauge, offering extremely accurate fuel level measuring with temperature compensation and water detection. When combined with Tank Guard, the gauge becomes integrated with Jigsaw’s advanced fuel monitoring system software, providing real time tank level readings that are immediately available for fuel reporting and management.” Clive continues, “By merging fuel throughput, recovered from the pumps by the Eclipse terminal, with the tank stock data from Tank Guard, fuel stock can be reconciled. In addition the system can monitor for alarm conditions such as unauthorised use and sudden stock level changes and despatch an alert by email and even SMS. The clever aspect of this is that the tank is located at such a distance from the fuel pumps that we couldn’t have provided this level of stock management without Tank Guard.” The Eclipse fuel management system has a particular feature that benefits Lenham’s Maidstone Fleet Manager, Steve Emsley who noted, “Managing a fleet of approximately 140 vehicles, I find the new Vehicle Efficiency widget on the reporting site very useful as I closely follow each vehicle’s MPG; if one vehicle sits on the high side it triggers me to take a closer look.” He added, “I’ve worked with different systems previously and by comparison the Eclipse is extremely stable and therefore reliable.” Lenham Storage trust all of their vehicle refuelling equipment needs to Cameron Forecourt.
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Press Releases
ISTOBAL recycles more than 130 tons of raw materials from car wash machines every year • Machine lifetime is extended via remodelling and recycling, avoiding disposal. • France, Spain and the United Kingdom rank first on the list of countries with the highest number of recycled machines. • The company is a pioneer in the development of sustainable carwash solutions aimed at minimising environmental impacts. Spain (05-06-17) - ISTOBAL, the Spanish company specialised in car wash and car care solutions for the automotive industry is strongly committed to developing environmentally-friendly
Parts replacement, structure recovery treatments, and upgrades with new optional items allow ISTOBAL to offer a second life to machines that would otherwise be discarded and sent to scrap. Maximum reliability and a competitive price are not jeopardised. France, Spain and the United Kingdom are the most popular markets for recycled machines, an environmental trend that has grown in recent years. In addition to this line of work with a focus on the environment, ISTOBAL is leading a constant effort in R&D to develop advanced solutions in water treatment and technologies that reduce water, energy and chemical product use. In the last edition of Autopromotec in Bologna, the Spanish company displayed, for the first time, an aerothermal heating boiler to be used at jet washes. This equipment saves up to 75% power compared to electric heaters, and 60% compared to gas boilers. This sustainable and efficient system also reduces maintenance and has a lower environmental impact thanks to the use of renewable energy and the absence of combustion and smoke emission. Another sustainable car wash solution is the hydrocarbon separator, a technology that reduces hydrocarbons by 94% in the water used in wash processes. Similarly, ISTOBAL’s last-generation rollovers use 40% less water than former ones thanks to new, less-absorbing materials used in brushes and the better distribution of the water circulation circuit, among other technologies. For commercial vehicles, automatic wash machines incorporate the company's latest innovations, reducing water consumption by 45% by increasing water pressure in the most critical wash phase, consumption-wise.
technologies. Thanks to their Restyle line - developed through ISTOBAL MetalWorks - the company recycles more than 130 tons of raw materials from car wash machines every year. ISTOBAL is able to extend the life of its machines by remodelling and recycling, saving 130,000kg worth of steel sheet, aluminium, copper, motors and other electrical and electronic components.
ISTOBAL also uses innovative recycling systems which help reuse 85% of the water used in each service. Likewise, the superconcentrated chemical product line developed by ISTOBAL, esens®, reduces CO2 emissions by 80% and hardly generates any waste into the environment.
Suresite confirms APEA Awards sponsorship Suresite has confirmed its involvement in the 2017 APEA Awards, which culminate with an Awards Dinner on 23rd November at the StadiumMK, Milton Keynes. The UK leader in compliance and risk management, wetstock management and card services to the fuel and convenience industry will this year sponsor the Health and Safety Performance Award. “The Suresite Group supports the APEA and the work it undertakes on behalf of its members and we welcome the opportunity to become involved with an initiative designed to raise industry standards,” confirms Keith Bevan, Sales and Marketing Director 38
of Suresite. The Lancashire-based business has over 20 years’ experience in providing Health & Safety solutions nationwide, including specialist compliance advice for the petrol forecourt sector, delivered by trained professionals to ensure that the best practices of the APEA ‘Blue Book’ industry standard are adhered to. The APEA Health and Safety Performance Award recognises the organisation with the best managed Health and Safety programme or system, helping to maintain the health and safety of those engaged within the industry.
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Press Releases
FuelQuip Fuel Management System installed at Britain’s largest cement plant Hope Cement, Britain’s leading independent producer of construction materials, cement, concrete and aggregates, has upgraded their refuelling facilities across three different sites with FuelQuip Ltd. Already benefiting from having their own onsite fuelling services, Hope Cement approached industry experts, FuelQuip Ltd, to increase and improve the fuel storage capacity at their depots in Dewsbury, Hope Valley and Theale. FuelQuip have maintained the refuelling facilities at Hope Valley for over 10 years and with over 4 decades of experience in the Petroleum industry, FuelQuip were the obvious choice to oversee the project. Hope Valley, the largest cement plant in Britain, saw the installation of a 50,000L Kerosene tank as part of the redevelopment. This replaces the 15,000L single skin aboveground tank with an open bund to bring the facilities up to current legislation requirements. The Kerosene tank accompanies a 60,000L Diesel package tank equipped with a FuelQuip Integral pump and Fuel Management System which was installed back in 2012. Part of the upgrade project also saw the depot at Dewsbury
benefiting from the installation of a 35,000 litre fully bunded package Diesel tank. This replaced the old style 35,000L open bunded single skin tank which was decommissioned and removed from site as part of the overhaul. The FuelQuip Fuel Management System is available with a multi-site option to provide continuity across the company and allow vehicles to easily move between sites. Different depots can be linked together on the software, providing a complete overview of the entire business operations. Various levels of management access can then be set in order to retain security and privacy. Hope Cement were so impressed with the functionality of the FuelQuip Fuel Management System at the Head Office depot in Hope Valley that a FuelQuip Integral pump with combined fuel management system was installed at the
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Press Releases Dewsbury depot as well. The FuelQuip fuel management system can also be used in conjunction with fuel pumps, access gates, vehicle wash as well as electric vehicle charging ports. It is capable of controlling up to 10 pumps and managing up to 3000 vehicles which future proofs the site. It allows for more control units and pumps to be linked into the system which accommodates for any later business growth, developments and expansion. Dewsbury wanted to take advantage of this facility and had a tag wash reader installed which easily links into the fuel management system to monitor and control access to the water facilities. Most recently, the site depot at Theale also upgraded their entry level combined fuel management system and fuel pump to a high speed FuelQuip Integral. An anti siphon valve was fitted to the existing fuel line to bring the bunded tank up to OFTEC and PPG2 guidelines. Theale wanted to utilise the option of live tank gauging that FuelQuip offer so that they could benefit from instant and live stock level readings being available on the software. This enables safe working levels to be maintained and fuel deliveries to be arranged when necessary to ensure Hope Cement’s range of comprehensive services remain operational. The FuelQuip fuel
management system is compatible with most tank gauges, including O.L.E 2020, 4-20 MA, O.L.E 4020 & 5020 as well as PIUSI OCIO, HECTRONIC, 4TECH and START ITALIANA. The existing tank gauge at Theale was linked into the FuelQuip fuel management software and enables any discrepancies to be highlighted promptly. The FuelQuip software utilises true real time cloud based technology to ensure that every transaction is recorded instantly and automatically. Immediate and accurate visibility of stock figures provides Hope Cement with complete control over their entire fuelling operation. Streamlined, flexible reports will now accurately log the fuel usage at the different depots down to the individual driver or vehicle and the ease in which these in-depth reports are produced can save Hope Cement hours of administration costs. FuelQuip endeavour to form long and loyal partnerships with clients; they have maintained the fuelling facilities at Hope Cement for over a decade and are very pleased to have completed the recent upgrades across the three depots. The improvements have already made a remarkable difference to Hope Cement’s operation as it is much more efficient, cost effective and secure.
Gunvor Refinery replaces field equipment without interrupting operations OpenTAS flexibility facilitates large-scale modernization project in Ingolstadt Hamburg/Ingolstadt. Software and consulting company Implico have announced the successful completion of a major modernization project for loading processes at the Gunvor refinery
computer that controls pumps and valves during tank truck loading – no longer met the latest technical standards. Some of the field gear on the loading bays also needed replacing with newer equipment. To minimize the impact on company business, Gunvor decided to complete the work with the refinery in normal operation. The technically and logistically challenging project began in early 2016. As a first step, Implico installed a new OpenTAS system to work alongside the existing one. One loading bay after another could then switch to the new system. On the software side, Implico’s downstream experts decoupled each loading bay to be moved from the legacy system. Once the equipment had been replaced on the loading bay by the services provider Actemium, Implico then integrated the platform into the new system. “We also took the opportunity to replace the old interfaces,” says
Implico’s systems were connected to Actemium’s development system during the conversion to ensure compatibility between hardware and software components
in Ingolstadt. Field equipment for tank truck filling was replaced on all twelve loading bays. Crucially, the upgrade was performed with the refinery in normal operation. Thanks to the flexibility of the OpenTAS terminal management system, one loading bay after another was successfully upgraded without impacting other loading operations. Work on the project was completed early this year. As things stood, Gunvor had no option but to go ahead with replacing the hardware, since the loading master – i.e. the 40
The flexibility of the OpenTAS terminal management system ensured smooth loading operations at the loading bays
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Press Releases
Volkmar Lindner-Billiau, Senior Consultant Oil & Gas at Implico. “Gunvor now uses the latest XML format for data exchange and will benefit from smooth and seamless data communications in the long run.” In addition to the production system, Implico also set up development and acceptance systems during the migration period. This allowed the software company’s developers to test the nuts and bolts of the new functions beforehand and verify compatibility for hardware and software components.
processing tax calculations both with and without EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System). One of Gunvor’s tank terminals is also connected to OpenTAS. In the course of the migration project, the Terminal Management System has now been given additional tasks: apart from load control, the software now also manages entrance and exit scales, and the exit terminal.
A successful migration The team from Gunvor is very satisfied with the project: “We’ve now put together a platform that means we are very well-prepared for the future,” says Erich Kuttenreich, Head of Loading and OpenTAS with add-on functions Inventory Accounting at Gunvor. “The conversions went very well The refinery in Ingolstadt has used OpenTAS since 2002. Tasks and had virtually no impact on the rest of our business. To wrap this handled by the software include calculating net refinery up inside a year is really a job well done.” His colleague Salman production, loading control for tank trucks and railcars, and Afsar, Project Engineer and Project Manager at Gunvor, adds: “Thanks to the load control visualization, our colleagues in Shipping now have a detailed, near-time picture of the situation in Loading and can take prompt action if required to do so. We can get an on-screen visualization of the current situation in Loading. For us, these are important and Hardware upgrading at Gunvor’s refinery in Ingolstadt: Implico integrated one loading bay after another into the new system significant improvements.” APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Press Releases
Consumers filling their tanks with the right fuel thanks to new EN! CEN has approved a new European Standard providing harmonized graphic symbols for liquid and gaseous fuels. The standard EN 16942, which will be published by all CEN members by end of April 2017, was developed following a request from the European Commission in 2015. This EN will provide consumers, inside and outside their countries, with information on the compatibility between their vehicles and the fuels available in filling stations as established in Article 7 of the Directive 2014/94/EU "on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure". The growing diversity of fuels available on the market indicated an increasing need to provide the rising number of vehicle users with clear and straightforward information on liquid and gaseous fuels sold at filling stations and on which fuel is suitable for their vehicles. Article 7 of the Directive recognises this need and requires the Member States to ensure that relevant, consistent and clear information is provided to consumers on the compatibility of their vehicles with the fuels placed on the market. According to the Directive, when available, this information should be based on the provisions of existing European Standards. EN 16942 ‘Fuels - Identification of vehicle compatibility - Graphical expression for consumer information’ will support the
implementation of Article 7 of the Directive. It specifies a graphical symbol placed on both the refuelling point and the vehicle. The standard stipulates the size, shape, colour and the location where the symbol needs to be placed on the refuelling points and on the vehicle. “The development of EN 16942 highlights the strength of the Public Private Partnership with the production of a consensus based standard as a timely response to market needs for the benefit of both businesses and consumers.” Elena Santiago Cid, Director General CEN and CENELEC. The standard has been developed by the CEN Technical Committee 441 ‘Fuel labelling’, of which the secretariat is provided by the Dutch Standardization Institute (NEN), in cooperation with the Commission services and stakeholders. The acceptance of EN 16942 demonstrates the effective cooperation between fuel producers, vehicle manufacturers, filling-station equipment manufacturers, public authorities, consumer representatives and other European stakeholders in reaching a consensus on the standard in just over a year. ANNEX- Examples of graphic symbols according to EN 16942 The full specifications for the graphic symbols (size, placement, colour, etc.) are included in EN 16942 ‘Fuels - Identification of
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Press Releases vehicle compatibility - Graphical expression for consumer information’ which can be obtained from one of the 33 National Standards Bodies member of CEN. EN 16942 specifies three different basic shapes: 1. A circle for petrol-type fuels 2. A square for diesel-type fuels, and 3. A diamond for gaseous type fuels
Examples for diesel type fuels Diesel type fuels have the letter B as symbol and a number corresponding to the maximum Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) content.
In addition to the shape, the symbol consists of a combination of numbers and/or letters. Examples for petrol type fuels Petrol-type fuels have the letter E as a symbol and a number corresponding to the maximum ethanol content.
Examples for gaseous type fuels
BMW and Shell launch 'oasis’ hydrogen dispenser for zero emission vehicles As consumers move away from traditional gas-powered cars over to more sustainable power choices such as electricity and hydrogen, the ‘gas station’ as we know it is quickly becoming redundant. The idea of ‘alternative refuelling stations’ poses a new opportunity for architects, designers and technicians alike, and BMW are the latest to propose a solution. The BMW subsidiary designworks studio has collaborated with Shell to develop an innovative hydrogen dispenser to make refuelling H-powered vehicles as easy as topping up with gas. BMW’s designworks is already well acquainted with designing for the future of mobility, which is likely why Shell chose to commission the studio to create their hydrogen dispenser. Dubbed oasis, the finished product sets out to create a seamless experience for hydrogen drivers on the forecourt, whilst promoting the
The dispenser is designed to make hydrogen refuelling as easy as topping up with gas
adoption of hydrogen as the fuel of the future. Differing from the ‘H’ or ‘L’ shaped fuel dispensers currently on the market, the oasis hydrogen dispenser takes a more pillar-like aesthetic, influenced by natural forms. The design is simple, and designworks have purposely hidden all mechanical parts with the intention to make the handle elegant and easy to use. The studio have even integrated a screen directly into the nozzle, that guides the user through the refuelling process step by step.
The hydrogen dispenser features a large interactive screen to inform users about refuel time and cost
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In front of each dispenser another interactive screen can be found, that provides information about the dispenser’s occupancy and remaining fuelling time and price. The screen also provides additional helpful information, letting drivers request maps to check route details or learn more about hydrogen as a fuel. The
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design focuses heavily on user experience, hoping to inspire a world of clean energy by making hydrogen power accessible and easy to manage. Oliver Bishop, hydrogen general manager at shell elaborates on the philosophy that influences the dispensers design, explaining that ‘customers are at the heart of what we do at Shell. We are pleased to have collaborated with designworks in the development of a new hydrogen dispenser that will allow us to provide customers an improved hydrogen experience. It will not only make refuelling seamless, it will also help make hydrogen fuel an even more attractive option in the future.’ The oasis was launched at the Hanover fair, from 24-28 April 2017. The ‘I’ shaped dispenser is influenced by natural forms
designworks have incorporated a mini screen onto the pump itself
The pumps use lighting to guide the user through the refuel process
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Press Releases
Wayne Fueling Systems concludes successful technology summit in Austin AUSTIN, TX – April 12, 2017 – Wayne Fueling Systems (“Wayne”), part of Dover Fueling Solutions (“DFS”) and a global provider of fuel dispensing, payment, automation, and control technologies for retail and commercial fuel stations, has concluded its 2017 Technology Summit in Austin, Texas with strong attendance and positive attendee feedback. This year’s technology summit brought nearly 300 Wayne customers, distributors, suppliers, and more participants to Wayne’s North American headquarter city. Session topics at the summit included: Payment, the Future of Fueling, Retail, and the Internet of Things, with speakers from Google, Intel, Dell/EMC, PayPal, and other companies sharing their expertise. Additionally, a “Partner Showcase” area provided the opportunity for sponsors of the summit to exhibit and promote their technologies, alongside Wayne’s latest products and solutions. This year’s summit also
Steve Van Vlack from Wayne demonstrates mobile payment on the Wayne Ovation™2 fuel dispenser
featured the “Wayne Innovation Room,” which offered attendees an exclusive look at some of Wayne’s never-before-seen future technologies. “We’re pleased that we could provide such informative speakers from some of the world’s top technology leading companies for our 2017 Technology Summit,” said Wayne’s VP of North America, Bill Reichhold. “Wayne has been leading the way for customers worldwide with innovative fuel dispensing systems, products and technology for more than 125 years. This summit was a fantastic opportunity to hear from other industry leaders about what the future may hold for our business and our world.”
Bill Reichhold from Wayne moderated an Internet of Things panel discussion with Liam Quinn from Dell, Dr. Anna Scott from Intel, Charlie Isaacs from Salesforce and Hob Hairston from Wayne during the 2017 Wayne Technology Summit
Chris Hickman of Cary Oil Co., Inc. noted that, “Having attended many industry events around the country, I would rank this one as one of the best for a variety of reasons. If [Wayne] continue[s] to host this event, we will be participating to ensure our customers are prepared to best position their sites for today, tomorrow, and well beyond the 2020 EMV® deadlines.”
Pennine Pump & Tank celebrate 25 years of business
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Pennine Pump & Tank are celebrating 25 successful and prosperous years of business in the petroleum industry.
With over 40 decades of experience, the Blackburn based company has grown from strength to strength with business growth increasing consistently year upon year. The combination of experience, expertise and reliability has seen Pennine Pump & Tank winning contract after contract on recommendation as they provide an unbeatable service to satisfied customers throughout a wide range of industries. Over the years this has expanded from Haulage contractors and now includes numerous County Councils, Airports, Bus & Coach operators, Building Contractors and Emergency services.
Founded in 1992, Pennine Pump & Tank specialise in providing a reliable pump installation and maintenance service to the commercial sector of the refuelling industry. They are proud to be able to provide an unbeatable, first class service to both the smallest and largest fleet operators of the whole of the UK.
From humble beginnings of a ‘One Man and His Van’ operation, to a nationwide team of dedicated skilled engineers, Pennine Pump & Tank’s ethos to deliver the most reliable service with a personal yet professional approach has formed many loyal and long lasting partnerships with clients across the entire British Isles.
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Steve Preston, Managing Director, “I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all our customers that have supported us over the years. Without their continuous support we would not be where we are today. We have always aimed to meet our customers’ wants and needs; durability, reliability and trust. These are the values that Pennine Pump & Tank pride ourselves on and have upheld from the very start. Our achievements are the result of the combined efforts of every individual in the company and I am extremely pleased to be able to celebrate 25 years of success this year.” Business continues to thrive for the family owned, family-run company from Lancashire and the years ahead promise to bring further success and expansion.
Pennine family
Original Pennine vans
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Articles
Articles OPW Products Work Together to Provide Fit and Forget Above Ground Remote Fill Solution By Aaron McConkey, Marketing Coordinator OPW
Client: Industry: Location: Products: Status:
Major Romanian Fuel Retailer Retail Fuelling Romania Fibrelite S20 remote fill and Viton entry seal kits, KPS pipe, OPW filler caps Complete
Installer friendly KPS piping used to connect fill points to tanks
Romanian Fuel Retailer specifies OPW products for series of installations
Project Overview A Romanian oil company approached OPW to provide an easy to install, reliable above ground fill point solution including associated internal equipment (pipework and fill caps) that would perform for the life of the site.
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Problem They required an above ground remote fill sump which would allow safe fast access to fuelling points for tanker driver, while protecting against unauthorised access or water ingress from above or below ground. Four fill points and one vapour recovery were specified, with fill caps and an easy-install piping solution to run to fuel tanks. For safety, all items needed to be conductive to prevent static electricity build-up.
Solution Industry first Fibrelite GRP above ground remote fill sumps provided a great alternative to traditional galvanised steel. The composite material is impervious to corrosion from exposure to water and fuel, meaning it will remain liquid tight for the life of the site, vacuum testable like all Fibrelite sumps.
Consideration was also given as to the accidental yet inevitable fuel drips and spills that occur when fuelling.
Designed with a secondarily contained spill tray to catch fuel spills and drips, the system includes an earth cable kit to ground the
GRP composite material is impervious to corrosion from water & fuel
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pipework. The two-leaf watertight hinged door provides lockable easy access to the fill points for the tanker driver. On this site, the door was padlocked for security instead of each individual fill cap, allowing for faster fuel delivery. Models are available in three sizes to accommodate from three to seven fill and vapour recovery lines. Supplied with high quality Fibrelite Viton pipe seals which will not deteriorate when exposed to fuel and vapours, the above ground remote fill’s simple single piece design provides a large working space to install pipework inside the sump before the spill container is installed.
Vacuum testable GRP sump prevents water ingress from above or below ground
Installer friendly KPS piping was used to connect the fill points and remote fill. Compact KPS fittings weld both pipes simultaneously wherever connections are required, reducing installation time.
OPW heavy duty corrosion resistant seal caps
To complete the containment, the OPW tight-fill top-seal caps were installed on top-seal adaptors, which prevent gasoline vapours from escaping and to prevent water, dust and debris from entering the tank. The OPW 634TT seal cap is heavy duty and corrosion resistant, with a body made of Duratuff to help eliminate APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Articles rust and oxidation for a long, maintenance-free life. The toggle lever distributes downward pressure to compress its Buna-N gasket evenly, assuring a positive, water and vapor-tight seal. The 634TT can be locked with a padlock or wire seal. Together, the Fibrelite sump, KPS piping and OPW fill caps formed a contained and conductive system, preventing leaks or static electricity build up.
Results OPW provided a fit-and-forget solution which will endure for the life of the site while reducing installation time by supplying all products from a single source, and reducing the number of welds required with easy-install KPS piping. The fuel retailer is continuing to roll Fibrelite above ground remote fills out across a series of new sites.
Technical Results Products
Brands
Model Types
S20 Above Ground Remote Fill
Fibrelite
Standard
KPS KP 63EC & KP 90EC Single Wall Pipe & Fittings
KPS
Standard
634TT Sealcap
OPW
Standard
Key Properties for Project
Included in this case
Vapour recovery Quick project turnaround (stock etc) Installation efficiency Leak detection Inventory management Fuel control Technical Support/Installation Training Sustainability Dispensing equipment Tank monitoring Loading/coupling systems Electrostatical safety Minimal maintenance
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Ask the Experts By Ian Hillier, Brian Humm and Clare Scawthorn As a small retailer who operates a number of filling stations within the UK I am slightly confused regarding the frequency that I have to have my pumps checked for weights and measures purposes. Could someone please let me know the actual regulation relating to this please? Routine Testing of Petrol Pumps Liquid Fuel Measuring Instruments or “Petrol Pumps” must be approved under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 for instruments put into use for trade before October 2006 or the Measuring Instruments Directive for instruments put on the market after October 2006. Regulations specify the tests which can be made to ensure the accuracy of petrol pumps which are in use for trade. Local authorities’ trading standards departments deliver the local enforcement of most of the UK’s weights and measures legislation. Petrol Pumps are subject to periodic inspection for accuracy and continued conformity by trading standards officers who are qualified in weights and measures. When a petrol pump is found to be not of the required accuracy when inspected, the inspecting officer may issue instructions to have the equipment brought into compliance. More serious faults can result in the equipment being rejected which means the equipment must be taken out of use until repaired and retested. To promote consistency and best practice, Regulatory Delivery, which is part of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, works closely with the national co-ordinating body, local government and the professional institute for inspectors of weights and measures – the Chartered Trading Standards Institute - as well as with regional groups of local authorities and individual inspectors.
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on how to achieve compliance as each one was different. Firstly you have the luxury still to issue a licence under Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1929 so this is the initial thing to do. You can then enforce upon the organisers if needed. Also they would have licence conditions to adhere to; they would also need a risk assessment under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) which would include a hazardous zone diagram for the rally staff to be aware of their existence; the zones are basically the same as depicted within the Blue Book, even down to the HZ around a pool of petrol. The basic rule is 4m around the storage and dispensing area which is usually controlled by security etc. Usually the storage would be either specialist petroleum fuels within metal drums or IBC type containers. Ideally once again the appropriate safety distances within the Blue Book would be applicable (see above). The dispensing at the events that we oversaw was usually hand operated pumps which rules out the ATEX requirement, however, if powered dispensers are to be used then the appropriate ATEX certification is required. The chosen area to store the fuel should not have any drainage connected to the standard sewer system. The area will need to be bunded where the fuel is stored and the dispensing occurs and the supply of absorbent material receptacle and a second for waste is required, both signed for identification, as is a method of disposal of any contaminated materials to an appropriate licensed waste facility. I suggest liaison with the Environment Agency re this aspect might be appropriate. Usual storage of petrol signage and fire-fighting equipment supply is applicable, i.e. No Smoking, Petroleum Spirit, Highly Flammable etc. and Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers.
Guidance on the frequency of inspections by Inspectors of Weights and Measures relies on a risk assessment determined by each Local Authority. Inspections will be targeted at intervals determined by the use that the equipment is put to and the likelihood that it may wear and become inaccurate. Inspections may be as frequent as every six months or as far apart as five years.
Staff that are engaged in the fuelling set up will need to be competent and have received appropriate training, similar to normal Petrol Filling Station staff re hazards and safety etc. When these events were held in London we issued a licence for the appropriate length of time and didn't usually charge a licence fee as they were short in duration but that is your decision within your Authority.
Ian Hillier Trading Standards
Brian Humm Bulletin Editor/APEA Council Member
There has been a proposal to hold a car rally event in Northern Ireland where I am the petroleum officer for the Council. We have never experienced this type of event or petrol storage/dispensing before. Could I ask if anyone could offer some advice please with regards to legality and safety? With regards your query in relation to the rally to be held in Northern Ireland, during my time as a petroleum inspector in London we had several events like this so we had some guidance
I have just been appointed as my Authorities Petroleum Inspector and have some concerns over my qualifications to carry out this role, I have been told that the HSE via the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group (PELG) have produced a framework of qualifications and experience for inspectors to prove competence within this role, could you let me know if this exists and what this criteria is please? In answer to your question, there is a legal requirement for officers operating under a Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA) to be competent in their role. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
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access this information and sign up to the website via: http://rdnatool.bis.gov.uk/
(HASWA) stipulates the following: 19 Appointment of inspectors. (England Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland). (1)Every enforcing authority may appoint as inspectors (under whatever title it may from time to time determine) such persons having suitable qualifications as it thinks necessary for carrying into effect the relevant statutory provisions within its field of responsibility, and may terminate any appointment made under this section. PEAs are enabled to enforce petroleum regulations under Regulation 18 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014, a statutory instrument of HASWA. In order to carry out that function each PEA is required to determine what they feel is necessary and appropriate in demonstrating the competency of their officers as per Section 19 of HASWA. To assist authorities and as a means to provide consistency, the competency framework which you have referenced, forms the basis of the petroleum modules in the Regulators Development Needs Analysis tool. This framework was developed by Regulatory Delivery and the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group. The tool allows inspectors and authorities alike, to understand what training options are available and how they can benchmark their competency against a nationally recognised role map. Officers can
A Guidance for Regulators Information Point (GRIP) is an additional resource that aligns with the RDNA tool, allowing users to establish what options are available to them should they identify any development needs. It is advisable for all inspectors to sign up and use this service to ensure they are aware of all avenues available to them in order to develop their knowledge and carry out their role effectively. When looking at what it takes to be a competent officer, it is important to recognise the level of responsibility a petroleum inspector holds. Any Improvement Notice (S. 21 HASWA) or Prohibition Notice (S.22 HASWA) would be made in the officers name as opposed to their authority. Being a warranted officer also allows for seizure of petrol stored illegally in unsafe conditions (S.25 HASWA) which in turn could lead to legal proceedings. For this reason it is imperative officers and authorities safeguard themselves and ensure the training they obtain is sufficient, appropriate and meets the needs of officers to enable them to carry out their day to day function to the high standard required. Clare Scawthorn Petroleum Manager London Fire Brigade
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Articles
Interview with Lisa Hood Retail Health and Safety Officer BP By Brian Humm, Bulletin Editor Hi Lisa, thank you for agreeing to be my next victim in the interview series for the APEA Bulletin magazine. Firstly could I get you to describe your position within BP Oil UK Limited? I am the newly appointed retail Health and Safety Advisor. Your role is obviously important to the company. Could you let our members know what your duties include? I deal with the day-to-day safety queries, from advice on security processes, health and safety audits to allowing visitors access to store. I am also very much involved and help to manage the longterm initiates that help reduce injuries and embed a better safety culture. (From a leadership level to a store level). I run a group of Health and Safety champions (a team of reps from across the business) used to help understand incidents and share lessons learnt, as well as spot trends and agree actions. I own and review the safe working procedures and risk assessments, manage the relationship with the Primary Authority and other contracts (e.g. DSEAR), as well as input into any meetings/reviews where health and safety should be a consideration. Obviously you are kept quite busy then; can I ask what your industry background is? Were you always within the retail sector of the petroleum industry? No. Whilst I am have been with BP Oil for 10 years my background is within the bulk storage of Jet Fuel. The terminal imported jet fuel from all over the world via ship, stored in 20 million litre tanks and exported via truck and pipeline, so process safety, engineering and maintenance was part of my day to day job. I was also the permit authority for any constructions works taking place, so health and safety was also a big part of my role. So how did you find that transitional period? Challenging but exciting. The retail team appreciated my experience from elsewhere in the business, as well as my fresh set of eyes and included me from day one which made it much easier to transition. The learning curve has been massive though, and understanding the way the world of retail works is something I am still trying to get to grips with now! Moving on, I realise, not withstanding the size of the BP estate, what do you find challenging within your day-to-day business? Petrol stations contain an unpredictable risk - customers! Yet without them we wouldn’t have a business, so they are so important! Therefore, it’s not simply the workforce we need to keep safe, it’s our customers too. Also, the sheer variation of the queries and scale of involvement 54
needed. However, this does mean that no two days for me are ever the same which is one of the reasons I love my job! I know that you have a Primary Authority with Milton Keynes Council; are you an advocate of the partnership regime? Yes, definitely. It emphasises the fact that we are committed to working in partnership with regulators, and have a desire to improve our experience of local regulation. It feels like a back-up, a kind of protection in a way. Does that mean that you, from time to time, receive good valuable advice and assistance then? Yes – although new to the role, the PA have given advice and have approved a couple of changes within our sector, and their expert advice gives us the comfort that we are doing everything we can to ensure we are operating both safely but also within the required regulations. Great, now you must be working extremely long hours but could I ask that you let us know what you do to relax away from the office environment? I am a mum of three and a wife – with a very busy social life! I believe in ‘work hard play hard’ so my time is taken up with football tournaments and dance classes for the kids. I am also the social organiser for the football team, as well as take part in the variety of events in my little village throughout the year. I am also a big lover of fancy dress and karaoke!! This week I shall be taking part in our village fete, dressed as Princess Belle from Beauty and the beast! Sounds like good fun, is there anything else you would like our members to know about? Yes – It’s extremely important to balance work and family life. My husband and children need me, and I have quite a demanding job, and I need to be good at both tasks! It’s not always easy but after years of being a working mum, I’ve nearly cracked it. Finally, bring your personality into everything you do. Whilst I am very hard working and professional, I am also approachable, positive and fun. I am proof that Health and Safety doesn’t have to be boring. Ok Lisa, thank you very much for your participation in this interview and we will catch up soon.
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Articles
How Fuelsuite Revolutionised Fuel Management for Viva Energy By Russell Dupuy - Managing Director, Environmental Monitoring Solutions Pty Ltd multitude of problems for a company, the community, and the environment. One of the largest areas of concern for any operation is the fear of a leaking tank. Fuel Tank owners have good reason to be concerned; the average petrol station can hold 150,000L of petrol and it only takes a few hundred litres of fuel to contaminate up to one million litres of water. Adding to the consequences, even a small fuel leak can result in legal and clean-up costs and potential fines by the EPA. The management of fuel stocking, storing, monitoring, and reporting can be complicated and time consuming work, irrespective of whether you are a small site owner or have hundreds of sites across the country. Viva Energy, one of the largest fuel wholesalers in Australia, was no exception when it came to these issues around fuel management. As an exclusive fuel supply licensee for the global energy group, Shell, Viva Energy has more than twenty fuel import and storage terminals and 870 Shell branded service stations. For an operation of this size, you can easily understand how overwhelming a task like wet stock management can be for the enterprise.
Fuelsuite enables petroleum retailers to remotely manage key assets, such as Automatic Tank Gauges, Price Sign, Pump Communications, Fridges, Compressors, CO2 sensors, Forecourt Containment and a range of other functions. With 30 second updates, clients transition from the transactional reactive to a transformative predictive business model, where they can see issues on the horizon before they become problems that impact business operations.” Russell Dupuy - Managing Director, EMS
The importance of visibility in fuel management Efficient and correct fuel management is necessary for all fuel suppliers, regardless of size. Poor fuel management can cause a “The direct connectivity of Fuelsuite has allowed us to identify issues and map a history of events on each site.” “In one instance, there had been high water alarms oscillating on a tank. When mapped against the deliveries to the site, it was noted that the high water level was occurring at the same time as the deliveries. This ended up being due to the physical configuration of the fill tube deflector, but allowed us to confirm that no water was present, and therefore no product quality issues.” Anthony Cornish Facilities Maintenance Contract Lead, Viva Energy 56
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Whilst Viva Energy’s existing fuel management process had prevented these hazards to date, they recognised significant inefficiencies in their current processes and required a more transparent fuel management system. Wanting to proactively advance their business performance, Viva sought help from our team at EMS. Specifically, Viva Energy needed complete visibility of what was going on in their tanks at all times. They wanted to ensure they had access to accurate site data, quickly, efficiently, and at a low cost. Fuelsuite: the future of fuel management Upon deploying EMS’ Fuelsuite system, Viva Energy gained access to reliable, secure, and real-time data from their tanks around the country – anytime, and anywhere.
"Fuelsuite has enabled live fuel data, which has lowered Viva's environmental Not only does Fuelsuite reduce the likelihood of tank impact whilst significantly improving OH&S and fuel distribution" errors, it also removes the complexity of fuel Ashley Harris management by ensuring Viva’s site data is accessible Retail Operations Manager, Viva Energy 58
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Articles Fuelsuite reduces environmental impact An unnoticed fuel leak is one of the worst-case scenarios a petrol station can encounter. Even with low contamination, leaking fuel can be disastrous to the environment and the organisation’s reputation. Unfortunately, there is always a chance your fuel system could leak, even if you follow industry compliance. Because of this, Fuelsuite has access to ATG and Pump data, so if an incident occurs, you know exactly which tank is leaking. The real-time data allows you to act immediately, minimising the damage a leak can cause. What should I do next? If you’re concerned about your lack of visibility in your fuel management process, now is your chance to take control. at all times via a contemporary cloud-based platform. The benefits of Fuelsuite for an organisation The ongoing benefits of using Fuelsuite to manage your wetstock are plentiful. However, there are two core benefits of the solution which can immediately improve your site’s safety and performance. Fuelsuite seamlessly integrates Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG) data from any petrol station, which can be accessed remotely in real-time. This greatly improves the day-today management for petrol station managers, as they can see exactly how much fuel is being regularly dispensed. The ready access to accurate data also means business decisions can be made quicker and with more confidence.
Without immediate access to accurate and reliable data, every business decision you make is a risk. Many fuel suppliers have suffered significant loss of profit because they did not realise they were over dispensing their fuel and continued to resupply their wetstock before the problem was noticed. Looking beyond the financial concerns, inefficient fuel management processes like the Dip Stick and manual fuel reconciliation can be hazardous to staff and are a major environmental concern. Fortunately the future of fuel is here, and the inefficiencies of fuel management can finally be resolved. 60
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Branches
Branches Eastern The Eastern Branch’s Spring meeting took place on Wednesday May 17th at Woburn Abbey. Woburn Abbey, comprising Woburn Park and its buildings, was set out and founded as a Cistercian Abbey in 1145. Taken from its monastic residents by Henry VIII and given to John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, in 1547, it became the seat of the Russell family and the Dukes of Bedford. Still used as a home by the current Duke it is also open to the public and houses a multitude of grand artwork, sculptures and furniture. APEA delegates were treated to a day of interesting speakers, networking and regulatory updates as well as an excellent guided tour of the Abbey and lunch. As usual the meeting kicked off with an introduction and welcome from branch Chairman Lee Markham, followed by the Branch representatives update by Alex Boudry. As Jamie Thompson could not attend the meeting Alex Boudry then read a Standards Update on his behalf. Peter Roll of the London Fire Brigade then updated the branch on all things new on the regulatory side of the industry. The first external speaker was Dagmar Höckner-Schallmeiner, Managing Director of Secu-Tech who travelled all the way from Austria to present to our branch. Dagmar presented a very interesting presentation on her company’s product range which protects against cross fills and overfills during petrol station fuel deliveries. The electronic safety systems Secu-Tech produce are used from the gantry in the depot through to the road tankers and to the fuel tanks on petrol filling stations, giving complete end-to-end assurance and protection. Dagmar shared her experiences from the Nordic and other European countries where these systems are either mandated or used regularly. This kind of technology is also being rolled out by Circle-K in Ireland on all the depots, forecourts and tanker trucks that they recently acquired from Topaz and could be moving into the UK soon.
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The next speaker was Alex Boudry of Franklin Fueling systems who presented on the topic of Acetic Acid corrosion in tank chambers. Petrol fuel in the UK now contains around 5% ethanol as per the European directives on renewable energy. This ethanol is formed from organic sources and as such can be a source of food for bacteria. Acetobacter microorganisms can feed on this ethanol, along with any water, and as a byproduct produce Acetic acid. This is the same process which turns the ethanol in wine into vinegar. Acetic acid is very corrosive and can cause rapid and catastrophic corrosion damage to tank lid equipment. Alex presented examples of this corrosion from the UK and USA as well as the scientific learnings from a US Environmental Protection Agency investigation into this problem. The solution to this issue is to ensure there are no leak paths in the tank lid for ethanol vapour to escape as well as to look at using resistant materials for tank lid equipment. Michelle Osborne and her colleague from Aco Technologies were next to speak and gave an interesting presentation regarding their channel drainage systems which are used frequently on Petrol Station Forecourts. They discussed design considerations for surface water containment and treatment and drainage utilisation within petrol station forecourt spill strategies. The final speaker of the day was William Kirkham from CC Jensen. William presented information about the importance of diesel cleanliness for fuel applications. His company CC Jensen offers diesel fuel polishing/filtering equipment which can remove dirt and water from diesel, ensuring that the fuel delivered to engines will not damage expensive injectors and other equipment. William also showcased his company’s laboratory services where fuel operators can send samples of diesel for it to be checked for cleanliness. Woburn Abbey proved to be a great venue for the Eastern Branch meeting and as usual the speakers offered insights into topical issues, technologies and opportunities facing our industry. The eastern branch welcomes everybody to attend their meetings, the next one being scheduled for December 2017. More information about this will follow in due course.
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Branches
Delegates at the Eastern Branch meeting
Southern “The Southern Branch have not held a Branch meeting since our AGM on the 17th January at Tormarton; when we enjoyed the company of the APEA Chairman Anton Martiniussen and interesting presentations on topics relating to the environmental considerations and impacts of forecourt decommissioning. The next Branch Meeting will be held on Tuesday 3rd October
2017 at Deanwood Park Golf Club near Newbury. The meeting invites will be sent out in late August. The topics for the meeting will include presentations on various tank lining systems, acetic acid corrosion and diesel venting. The winter meeting and AGM will take place on Tuesday 23rd January 2018 at a venue in the Swindon area.”
Yorkshire & Humberside Yorkshire and Humberside meeting and AGM 11/05/2017. The Yorkshire and Humberside Summer branch meeting took place at the Pontefract racecourse. Andy Kennedy welcomed the members to the AGM for the branch. The following committee members were voted in for the next 12 months by the members present:
Branch Representative Treasurer Chairman Secretary
Andy Kennedy Dave Parker David Wall Terry Guthrie
Dave Parker then gave a brief update to the members on the branch accounts.
Speakers left to right: Steve Perrin, Steve Watts, Tim Mitcham, Dan Blair, Dan Lawrence
APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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Branches The next meeting has been arranged for the 16th of November, 2:00pm at the Regional Forecourt Show, Wakefield. After the AGM, the meeting opened for technical presentations. Steve Watts P&C The first presentation was given by Steve Watts who explained the varied services P&C now offer to the forecourt industry. This ranged from full site construction (in conjunction with Tokheim), facility management services, utility monitoring to help sites reduce operating costs and valet serving (in partner with Airserve). They have also built 10 drive through Starbucks outlets recently. Steve also described how they have set up as strategic partners with Oracle to provide dealers with POS support. M&E is a new avenue for P&C where thay are now providing fire safety systems with design, installation and testing services. Steve was then assisted by Tim Mitcham who took the members through their fuel testing and tank management services. Tim explained that data shows 95% of storage tanks have some kind of
contamination issues of varying degrees. These include water, silt and gravel, biomass mattings, rust particles and debris from the tanks walls. Tim explained to the members how their varied services assist tank owners to manage the quality of their fuel and provide remedial services when problems are found. For more information contact info@p-cadv.com. Steve Perrin - Steve Perrin Environment Safety & Health Consultancy The second presentation was given by Steve Perrin from Steve Perrin Environment Safety & Health Consultancy on the subject of ‘CDM 2015’. Steve advised the delegates that CDM brought in more defined roles and included work on domestic premises. Some of the roles defined with relevant duties are Client, Principle Designer, Designer, Principle Contractor and Contractor. The client is anybody who is having work done on their premises and is responsible for appointing a principle designer and principle
Branch delegates from the air
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Branches contractor. They must ensure enough time and resources are in place and provide pre-construction information. The principle designer will assist the client with the preconstruction phase identifying any design risks, provide information to the principle contractor and prepare the health and safety file at the end of the project. The designer prepares the designs for the project, takes into account reducing hazards and provides information to the principle designer and principle contractor. The principle contractor is in overall charge of the construction phase and must complete a construction phase plan. They must ensure contractors have the knowledge skills and training to safely complete their tasks. A very robust discussion was then held after Steve’s presentation with numerous questions from the members. For further information contact steveperrinsafetyconsultant@gmail.com Dan Blair ILUX Lighting and Dan Lawrence CREE lighting The final speakers were Dan Blair and Dan Lawrence who
discussed the latest technologies in LED lighting for the forecourt industry. Their design and testing gives them the confidence to supply a 10 year warranty with all their forecourt products. They explained the structure of CREE and the long history of LED design and production. They also explained that new technology is moving the performance of LED lighting on, and the next generation lighting CREE are starting to produce are 35% more efficient than the current products available with the next generation lights alone being 20% more efficient. This means their next generation canopy lights will replace a 126W light with a 93W unit. When you think this would have been a 400W traditional canopy light until recently, it is easy to see where energy savings can be made. They quoted a typical canopy can save €31,000.00 over 10 years. info.europe@cree.com After a very nice lunch the members enjoyed the nice Yorkshire sunshine with a Drone exhibition at the side of the racecourse. Dave Parker enthralled the group flying his drone and taking pictures from height for the members to review. NEXT MEETING 16/11/17. Please book it in your diary now
Branch Representative and Secretary Contact Details Eastern Alex Boudry - Rep Franklin Fueling Systems Limited Tel: +44 (0)1473 243 322 Mob: +44 (0) 7825 798 953 email: Boudry@franklinfueling.com Anton Martiniussen - Sec ELAFLEX Ltd Tel: 01992 452 950 Mob: 07831 595620 email: elaflex@aol.com North East Scott Ruddick - Rep Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service Tel: 01670 621143 Mobile: 07787804933 email: scott.ruddick@northumberland.gov.uk Sean Smith - Sec Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service Tel: 0191 444 1268 Mobile: 07817 147505 email: sean.smith@twfire.gov.uk North West Andy Myers - Rep Artelia UK Tel: +44 (0) 208 237 1851 Mobile: 07500 442 573 email: andy.myers@uk.arteliagroup.co. uk
Geoff Oldham - Sec Suresite Group Ltd Tel: 01772 790901 Mobile: 07831 490352 email: jgo@suresite.co.uk Midlands Rob Tunnicliff - Rep Tel: 07909 141232 email: rob.tunnicliff@stoke.gov.uk Graham Adcock - Sec Adcock Associates Tel: 01789 414202 Fax: 01789 267741 email: enquiries@adcockassociates.co.uk Southern Doreen Pooley - Rep The Premier Group Tel: 07770 591674 email: Engineerdoreen@gmail.com David Sommers - Sec Hampshire Trading Standards Tel: 01962 833651/07718 146033 email: david.sommers@hants.gov.uk Scotland Ian Hillier - Rep Tel: 01505 352004 email: i.hillier@ntlworld.com APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Andy King - Sec Midlothian Council Trading Standards Tel: 0131 271 3552 email: andrew.king@midlothian.gov.uk Ireland Thomas Daly Chairman and Branch Rep Dublin Fire Brigade Tel: 00 353 (0)1 673 4059 email: thomas.daly@dublincity.ie Ronnie McArdle - Sec McArdle Doyle Limited Tel: +353 42 9384792 email: mail@mcardle-doyle.ie Yorkshire & Humberside Andy Kennedy Chairman and Branch Rep Global-MSI Tel: 01302 346717 Mobile: 07469 212063 email: andy@global-msi.com Terry Guthrie - Sec South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Tel: 0114 2532592 email: tguthrie@syfire.gov.uk 69
Training
Training
Delegates from the 3 day combined Construction and Audit and Inspection course for Merseyside Fire & Rescue
Delegates from the LPG training course in Cyprus in May for Hellenic Technical Trading Ltd
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APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Training
Course dates 2017 3 Day Combined Petrol Filling Stations – Construction, Audit and Inspection Course Stansted Airport 11th to 13th September
18th September
Petrol Filling Stations - Enforcement Procedures An Awareness Stansted Airport 4th September
Electrical Installations - An Awareness Swindon 26th September
Petrol Filling Station courses on request Vapour Recovery Installations Leak Investigation Petroleum Officers Workshop Please contact the APEA office for a quotation at admin@apea.org.uk
Safe Installation and Use of LPG Stansted Airport 14th September Wetstock Management Stansted Airport
DSEAR Stansted Airport
19th September PFS, Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 To be announced
Explosives and Fireworks Manchester Airport 20th September Stansted Airport 27th September
Course Fees 3 day course with accommodation 3 day, day delegate rate 1 day course
APEA Member £1020.00 £810.00 £260.00
Non member £1120.00 £910.00 £310.00
More information and booking details on the ‘Training’ page at www.apea.org.uk Anyone booking a training course that is not an APEA member will automatically receive complimentary “Individual” membership to the APEA until 31st December of the current year.
Bespoke courses can also be arranged for companies, which enables members to receive training at a discounted rate and at a time and location suitable to them. If you are interested in hosting a bespoke course for your company please contact Jane Mardell, the APEA Business Manger at admin@apea.org.uk.
Courses will be designed around the (3rd edition) Blue Book Guidance for the Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations (June 2011). The guide is currently being revised and due for publication early 2018. You can purchase a copy directly from the Publications page of the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk, log on to the website first to benefit from the APEA member discount. A PDF download from the APEA web site www.apea.org.uk can be purchased with a licence for individual use only by members for £70.00 plus vat or by non members for £140.00 plus vat. The hard copy of the 4th Edition of the Blue Book is due to be printed in early 2018. It is strongly recommended that attendees have access to this document during courses. For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - APEA Business Manager, email: admin@apea.org.uk, Tel: + 44 (0) 345 603 5507 or Thomas Daly (Chairman of Training Committee) Tel: +353 876899281/+353 876899281 or email: thomasdaly@apea.org.uk APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
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