The Bulletin APEA (The Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration)MAGAZINE - Sept 2022
Inside Inside APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk 3 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 authors. Published by the APEA (The Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration) A company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 2261660. Front cover: Resupplying the new filling station in the fishing village of Abene, in the Casamance region of Senegal 80787258444240383634302826232018141010864 PublicationsNewBusinessEditorialWelcomeManagerMembersInformation Articles APEA Member Helping Ukrainian Refugees in Krakow What do the New Red Diesel Rules Mean for Distributors? APEA attends UNITI Show in Stuttgart Petrol Stations Numbers – The Challenges for the Industry Reputation Saving Cross-Fill Prevention System Wins the Day for Malta-based Fuel Distribution Leaders, Enemed EV Charging Infrastructure that’s Built to Last Do More With Your ATGs Stop Using Sand On Fuel Spills Active Connect, Celebrating its 20th Anniversary This Year Ask the GovernmentExpertsRelease New Regulations Mandating the Installation of Electric vehicle Charging DrivingEquipmentwith E-Methanol The Fuel for the Future PressNews APEATrainingBranchesReleasesLive2022 Conference, Exhibition and Awards Dinner
National Council meets three times per year in January, May and September. Traditionally this has been face-to-face in central London. We are now experimenting with different face-to-face venues to see if we can find a better travel compromise for current members. We are also trialing hybrid meetings to enable Council members to dial in if they are unable to attend – although we would encourage attendance whenever possible. Our day-to-day activities are mainly carried out using the collaboration platform MembersBasecamp.of National Council also sit on a number of Committees. The idea being that small groups work together and then report back to National Council. People can bring their specialisations to play and it avoids lengthy discussions involving all members. Committees include Electronic Communications; Events; Publications; Technical and Training. Many of us sit on multiple committees where we feel we can contribute.
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National Council you must be either an Ordinary (ie. Individual) Member in your own right or a Fellow. Representatives of Corporate Members are not eligible. Neither are Retired members, Honorary members or Affiliated Associations. As a member of National Council you will need to become a Director of the APEA. As indicated on the nomination form the positions available for filling at the AGM are – Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Editor of The Bulletin, plus up to four council members. The posts of Officers would normally be taken by someone who has sat on National Council for a number of years so understands the working of National Council and the expectations of the role. Chairman Andy Mobile:Kennedy07469 212063 email: andykennedy@apea.org.uk (0) 7507 478533 email: b.humm@outlook.com us on Linkedin and Pooley tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
The Chairman usually holds the post for two years. The Vice Chairman is normally “Chairman-in-waiting”.
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APEA Business Manager (contact for all APEA Business and Bulletin advertising, design and typesetting) Jane APEA,MardellPOBox 106 Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3XT Tel: +44 (0) 345 603 5507 Mobile: +44 (0) 7815 055514 email: admin@apea.org.uk
APEAWelcomeChairman Welcome APEA
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There are two ways of joining National Council. In addition to the four council members indicated on the nomination form each Branch nominates a Branch Representative who also sits on National Council. If you would like to be involved but don’t feel you would like to go through the open nomination process then join your local Branch Committee and, in due course, you may be able to join National Council that way.
It really is very important that members attend the AGM. This is a Member Association and National Council is there to represent you. Please show your face, show your support for what National Council is doing and have a chat about what you would like to see Wehappening.moved the AGM from start of day to the lunchtime slot at APEA Live to give more members time to arrive but this holds it’s own challenges. National Council have therefore decided to experiment this year by offering a light snack on entrance to the AGM so members don’t then have to find something to eat. We hope this will draw more of you to join the meeting. See you at the AGM. So here we are – another APEA Live hurtling towards us. And that means another APEA AGM. On that note I would like to focus on encouraging members to join National Council. As you will see there is a nomination form enclosed with this edition of The Bulletin. I believe there has been a reluctance for members to become nominated to national Council because there is a feeling that “all of the posts are currently filled”. It is really important that anyone who would like to be part of the Council steps forwards. There is a process to allow members to choose who represents them should more members be nominated than the number of positions defined in our Articles of InAssociation.ordertojoin
Brian EditorHumm
Training has returned to normality following Covid 19. We are actually putting an extra 3 day construction and audit course on this year, because of its popularity, and the online training that we have developed, in conjunction with Olive Group, is now going live and is available on our website. It is always a pleasure undertaking the training courses and meeting new people to industry, especially delegates from local authorities, who now seem to be appointing new petroleum officers which to be honest is about time. There will be some interesting news coming soon in regards to petroleum officers’ training and competency so watch this space.
On that note, I’m off to do other stuff. Firstly, though, I would like to thank a few people: Jane for her patience, Jamie Thompson for his contributions, and lastly Alex Boudry, the Events committee chair for his, mostly unseen work, in organising APEA Live. Until next time…
Welcome to this edition of the APEA Bulletin. As usual we have scoured the length and breadth of the petroleum world to source the best news items, press releases and articles for you to enjoy. We were lucky this time as the APEA presence at Uniti Expo 2022 in Stuttgart, attended by our chairman, Doreen Pooley and our Technical Chairman, Jamie Thompson, brought forward some very interesting articles which I hope you all enjoy.
You will find details within this edition of APEA live 2022. The events team are working hard, in conjunction with f2f, to ensure that this years’ event is as good as, or even exceeds last years’ amazing conference, exhibition and dinner, being held at the stadium MK on Thursday 17th November.
The exhibition and conference is a great place for local authority inspectors to meet industry colleagues, see new equipment and get to know the people behind the products they might come across on site - a great way of learning and can be attributed CPD for their learning portfolio. The conference as well will have some interesting topics and excellent speakers so it is something that needs to be considered. You wouldn’t be bored, trust me!
If you think you might need some training then you can see all our courses on the APEA website. If there is a topic that you do not see covered or you would like to alter or add topics to the advertised ones, then contact Thomas Daly, our training chairman, who can advise, and put together bespoke courses designed specifically for you that meet your exact needs.
6 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Editorial Editorial
I’m sure the local weights and measures would have something to say about this? The trouble is that people, unfortunately, tend to believe what they read, which can result in amusing stories but also petrol station staff being abused, both verbally and physically, which basically is completely wrong on every level. Let’s hope this ends so the staff can work in a safe and secure environment.
This again is a plea to members, both individual and corporate, if there is something that you think members might like to know, see or something that may have amused you etc. please feel free to submit it for inclusion. This issue, because of the Uniti input, has been a little bit easier than normal to fill the allotted pages, but this isn’t always the norm. It takes a lot of information to put The Bulletin together so it remains a worthwhile read. Plea over, but please consider submitting something to assist us to continue to produce this great Bulletin. Fuel prices are heavily within the news at the moment, the price of diesel at the time of writing this is nudging £2 a litre. In some parts of the UK it is probably over this figure, and retailers are being accused of profiteering, but the majority of the fuel price is in fact tax. The Government takes a huge slice of the money we pay at the petrol station. It would be nice to think that they will revisit the help given to the UK motorists, especially the HGV industry that is responsible for supplying basically everything we buy in shops. It is a vicious circle to be honest, and a hard task trying to control prices with the cost of fuel ever increasing. I certainly wouldn’t like to be a politician at this moment. One thing that was being discussed the other day is the HMRC allowance for mileage if using your personal car for business. This has been 45p per mile for some considerable time, and if you weren’t aware, this is not only to cover fuel but also wear and tear of your vehicle. Now it just about covers the fuel being used, something else that should be addressed, as someone who uses his car for work I’ll certainly be looking forward to an increase. With the cost of fuel I have noticed, when searching for news etc on the internet, that there is a lot of “fake news” in relation to petrol. Some are showing people putting Cola in their tanks to help fuel consumption, another post mentioned that oil companies are aerating fuel from the dispenser so you are told by the pump display that you have 10 litres when in fact you are only getting 8.
APEA Live 2022, 17th November When you receive this issue there will only be a few months until APEA Live 2022 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. Anyone wishing to book a place at the Conference, Exhibition or Awards Dinner should go to www.apealive.co.uk. Please note there are discounts for ‘early bird’ booking. For more information go to page 80 of this issue of The Bulletin. Please also ensure you book your accommodation early as this gets booked well in advance.
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New Members There have been 21 new members joining during January, February March, details on page 10.
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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 17th November.
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The 2023 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 spare so you need to contact me by the end of October if you have not received your copy. Yearbooks sent to Corporate members will be sent by courier. Banner Advertising You can place your banner on the APEA website. This is £200 plus vat for one year. Please contact me at admin@apea.org.uk if a booking. information/Your membership account go to your membership account at www.apea.org.uk where can do the address, Yearbook to SCA regulations that came into effect on the 14th March 2022, we are unable to process APEA Membership auto renewals for this year and require that you navigate to the Join APEA page on the APEA website, log in to your account and create a new subscription of your choice. website development company called Mota have been notifiying members due for membership renewal individually about this process since 14th March. The auto renew system will work normally next year once this process is complete on your membership account.
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. There is comprehensive contact information on the APEA website too at www.apea.org.uk. Jane I hope you are enjoying the summer, hopefully it will be a good one as I write this in July.
With this issue of The Bulletin you have received an AGM invitation letter and nomination form. If you wish to make a nomination to Council please complete the form and scan and send to the Honorary Secretary Andy Kennedy as instructed on the form. You can register attendance for the AGM and you can view the APEA 2021 reduced accounts and other documents for the AGM at the link below. There is also a link on the home page of the website at www.apea.org.uk. https://apea.org.uk/pages/inside-apea/agm
entry •View your downloads Due
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8 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Business Manager Business Manager Jane ManagerBusinessMardell 2023 Yearbook
The APEA Awards are live and you can enter the awards by going to www.apealive.co.uk/2022/awards/enter-the-awards/ Deadline for entries: 23rd September 2022.
Training Courses All training courses can be viewed and booked on the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk. If you are interested in booking a bespoke training course please email Tom Daly (Chairman of Training Committee) at thomasdaly@apea.org.uk.
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10 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Corporate Membership Jodie Braithwaite Altrix Group Ltd Aaron Brian AlbertAndel FranklinPolancoFueling Systems Steph Flanagan Green Spark Environmental Limited Richard Styles Heart of the South West Trading Standards ShahzadService Arif Sheikh Pakistan State Oil Shane Stanley REDS Group Limited Jayne Stoke-on-TrentHawe City Council Martin Hanton TUV SUD Individual Membership Jayaprakash Navanethakannan Almuftah Contracting Company W.L.L Michael O Connell Dublin Fire Brigade Dionne GatwickParsonsAirport Ltd Gareth Darbyshire gdei GillettsStevelimitedCooperSpar Tom HunterHunterFuel Solutions Margaret Gallagher Nicholl Oils David Duckworth Scurr SolomonGavinTTAnthonyArchitectsKempELECTRICSLTDHallewellBlay-Kwofie Retired Membership Robert Winwood New Members (April - June) Publications Information 4th Edition of the Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations“Blue Book” (Revised 2018) ISBN 978 0 85293 888 1 Price for hard copy APEA Member rate - £75 Non APEA Member rate - £150 Price for pdf version (please note the pdf version is licensed to the purchaser only and cannot be shared or printed) APEA Member rate - £75 Non APEA Member rate - pdf £150 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. 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. New Members/Publications Information
As part of the rapid growth and development of the whole electric vehicle charging infrastructure, filling stations are seen as an obvious place to provide charging facilities. However, it is recognised that difficult safety and logistical issues are linked to such installations.
ISBN-13: Pages:Publication978-1-83953-315-0Year:202030
APEA Member rate - £32.50 Non APEA Member rate - pdf £50
This Code of Practice is an authoritative guide to all installations of electric vehicle charging equipment. It has been updated in line with recent changes in BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and reflects some major developments in this area including vehicle to grid, smart integration and inductive charging.
When the 4th Edition of the Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation was published, significant technical discussions were still underway about this area to help finalise and clarify the safety issues that needed to be addressed. The work behind these meetings was led by APEA (the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration) who represent the major stakeholders in this sector. APEA and the IET are therefore now issuing this joint publication to help provide important guidance in this area.
11APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Publications Information
APEA Member rate - £32.50 Non APEA Member rate - £50 Price for pdf version (please note the pdf version is licensed to the purchaser only and cannot be shared or printed)
Price for hard copy
Electric Vehicle Charging Installations at Filling Stations
12 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Publications Information Size of advert (all rates exclude VAT) Advert fee in 1 issue Advert fee in 4 issues (includes 25% disc Full page (210mmw x 280mmh with 10mm border or with 3mm bleed) £498.00 £1494.00 ½ page (185mmw x 125mmh) £249.00 £747.00 ¼ page (90mmw x 120mmh) £125.00 £375.00 •The Bulletin is published four times a year with a print run of •Free2200 issue to APEA members (approx 1200 members •Hasworldwide)international distribution and readership •Respected source of industry specific news and information •Contains relevant articles, news items, press releases and reports from UK and 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. Priority is given for press releases and articles submitted by Bulletin advertisers to be included. About The Bulletin and how you can submit copy to be included Please note the deadline date for the March 2023 issue is early due to Christmas and New Year holidays. Deadline dates for copy and advertising artwork 2022/2023 Bulletin Advertising 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. Priority is given for press releases and articles submitted by Bulletin advertisers to be included. 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 below. Issue Copy deadline date Posting date Dec 2022 19th September 4th November March 2023 9th January 17th February June 2023 27th March 5th May Sept 2023 3rd July 11th August
Articles Delivering
By Graeme Warnell, GW Environmental & Consulting Ltd
“It was not long before the population of Krakow swelled by over 10% as a result of the fleeing refugees that comprised mostly women and children. At this point we decided to open up our home to refugees and start a fund-raising page so that we could do more immediately on the ground to help. “Our first family was a young mother, Elena and her 3-year-old son, Maxim. They had fled Ukraine and were trying to get to Rostok in Germany, however after travelling for 3 days they were exhausted. We were able to provide them with food, a place to sleep, rest and comfort. After a few days they managed to contact their colleagues in Rostok. We made sure they had all the provisions they needed and some money. We then got them on the train to Rostok where they arrived safely the next day.
“In the meantime, we learned of 40 families who were sleeping in the local football stadium, so we started to take food and essential items to them every week. It was clear living space was now becoming very scarce in Krakow and nearly every sports hall, gym and hotel had been converted to house refugees. supplies to Ukraine
When Russia renewed its attacks on Ukraine from both the Donbas and Belarus there was an exodus of refugees fleeing Ukraine with the majority of them heading to Poland. With Krakow being only 4 hours drive from the Ukraine border Graeme and his family saw events unfolding that they felt compelled to become involved with.
14 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles APEA Member Helping Ukrainian Refugees in Krakow
Graeme Warnell has been an APEA member for many years working in the oil and gas retail sector since 1992. Since 2008 he has been based in Krakow, Poland.
“At first, we organised through our daughters’ school two buses that would drive to the Ukraine border and bring refugees into Krakow. On their way to the border, we would ensure the buses were filled with essential supplies that could be used at the border before they returned filled with people fleeing the invasion.
16 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Articles “The requests for help came in all different forms. We answered a plea from a woman with a 24-year son who suffered from a severe form of autism. The son only found comfort when he could play music on his piano which of course they had to leave behind. From the money we raised we were able to buy a portable electronic organ for him. It may seem like a small gesture, but it made a huge difference to both him and his mother.
When they arrived, the children were asleep, and my wife and the mother carried the children into their new room. When I went to the back of the car to collect their bags, I was truly shocked – there was only the mother’s handbag and a small plastic shopping bag with a few toys in. They had left with nothing. All that they had were the clothes they had travelled in. Whilst they had been in a bomb shelter their apartment block had been totally destroyed. They stayed with us for almost 4 weeks. In this time my wife managed to arrange all their paperwork, establish the mother with a bank account and find schools for the two young children. After much searching, we were also able to find an apartment for them in Krakow, a place they could call home, which we help subsidise. “After a few trips to the shops to buy bedding, towels, toys, food and other essential items the apartment was beginning to feel like home or at least a new start.
“Shortly afterwards the mother’s cousin, who was 5 months pregnant and fleeing with her 8 year old son, were able to join them and they are now all live together. It is important to understand that no one wants to be a refugee and there is a strong Elena and Maxim Aga and Graeme
“The arrival of our second family shocked me the most. We were informed of a mother, Vlada, with two daughters, Yasmina and Tzarina aged 8 and 3 who were arriving by train into Krakow from Ukraine, and had nowhere to stay. My wife drove to the station at midnight to collect them whilst I prepared a room for them all.
17APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles Delivering supplies to Ukraine
desire for them to remain independent and in control of their own lives in some shape or form.
Russel Rhodes, BDM Scotland & Northern England, Adler and Allan, discusses the implications and options available to your operation.
With fewer operations using red diesel, you’re going to need to store more white diesel to meet demand, and you’re going to have to be very careful not to contaminate any of your customers’ white diesel tanks with red dye.
“We are now waiting for our third family to arrive and in the meantime continue to provide food and support wherever we can directly to refugees on the ground. Last week we started sponsoring two Polish drivers with nerves of steel who are driving essential items into towns such as Bucha and Irpin that have been both destroyed and looted by the Russian forces. The pictures they take and stories they come back with are heart-breaking. We ensure their vans are full of food, blankets, mattresses and anything that is needed, and we sit and wait for their safe return each week.
What do the New Red Diesel Rules Mean for Distributors? 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
“We are so thankful to everyone who has donated and supported our campaign, we could not have achieved any of this without people’s kind donations. It is our aim that we will use the fund to not only help people fleeing the war in Ukraine but to ultimately help them to return and rebuild their lives once this nightmare is Ifover.”anyone would like to support the campaign, they can do so by going to the info@gwenvironmentalocnsulting.comwww.gwenvironmentalconsulting.comGraemehttps://gogetfunding.com/hands-on-help-ukraine/link:Warnell
By Russel Rhodes, Business Development Manager, Adler and Allan
Articles
18 APEA tel: 0345
On April 1, 2022, the Government changed the rules on who is eligible to use red diesel with the aim of taxing most users of diesel more appropriately given the harmful emissions they produce. Various sectors lost their entitlement; construction, plant hire, road maintenance, haulage and logistics, manufacturing, mining and quarrying, and commercial and backup power generation. If you’re a distributor supplying any of these industries, you’re no doubt aware of the change in legislation. But have you fully considered what it will mean for your facilities and processes?
One final option is to switch entirely to storing white diesel but install an injection system to convert white to red diesel on demand, claiming back the tax.
This would require a specialist to install a fuel injection system and process at your depot. Finding the right option for you
Another strategy is to increase your overall tank storage to accommodate the greater demand for white diesel. Consult an expert in fuel infrastructure to advise on the new tank supply, undertake safe and compliant installation, and provide longterm maintenance.
19APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
Whichever strategy you decide fits your operations you’ll need to act swiftly. An upfront investment will ensure you keep up with the changing fuel demands of customers, avoid contaminating any white diesel stocks, and have adequate security measures in place.
Option 1: Don’t change anything You can decide to keep your depot as it is – but do consider that you will need to engage with your RDCO to alter your delivery schedule, so you can refill your white diesel stocks more regularly as demand increases.
With decades of experience in fuel handling and tank storage, indepth expertise in the relevant legislation, and nationwide coverage, we can provide trusted advice and cutting-edge processes for all the options open to you.
Also be aware that white diesel is considerably more valuable (especially now) and is vulnerable to theft. You should consider additional security measures, such as CCTV monitoring, as well as spill response cover given that theft often also results in damage, careless handling, and spills.
A specialist environmental services provider can undertake the fuel uplift and transfer, cleaning and buyback in preparation.
To meet the change in demand, this is a sensible strategy, but you will need to ensure the tanks are fully cleaned prior to the grade change, as you cannot risk putting traces of red dye into a customer’s white diesel tanks. You should engage with an environmental services partner to ensure your tanks are cleaned with 100% compliance and minimum disruption to your operations. Option 3: Consolidate your red and white diesel in separate depots To make operations more clear-cut, you might decide to separate your red and white diesel storage to entirely different depots, for a more focused distribution strategy and less risk of any crosscontamination.
Option 4: Increase your overall tank capacity
Option 2: Repurpose some tanks from red to white diesel
Option 5: Install an injection system
20 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
APEA attends UNITI Show in Stuttgart
Professionals from the industry were delighted to be able to get back to business. The modern Stuttgart Messe proved to be the ideal location once more with its large halls. Educational programmes split across three forums covered some of the key trends and challenges in carwash, convenience and fuel retail. With the decarbonization of the transport sector becoming a vital topic in Europe, UNITI expo hosted an Alternative Fuels Pavilion. Here visitors could see a host of energy options to power vehicles APEA ThompsonandDoreenmannedstandbyPooleyJamie
Following the pandemic restrictions UNITI expo finally came back to Stuttgart after a four-year break. Some 16,000 people attended from all over the world. The European trade fair for the service station and carwash industries was branded a success by organisers and participants. The most innovative products and designs were on display from the 431 exhibitors from 37 countries.
By Jamie Thompson, APEA Technical Chairman
21APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles The Robot Petrol Pump Keith Robinson Risbridgers’celebrating100years
22 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
The UNITI Pump Jamie Thompson with Stefanie Kraemer of SGB Leak Detection – hydrogen, EV charging, methanol, CNG & LNG and E-Fuels. The topic of synthetic fuels (E-Fuels) was widely covered at the trade show presentations. On the other side, 431 exhibitors representing all segments of the retail petroleum and carwash industries spread across 40,000 sqm of exhibition space.
Taking into consideration the dramatic drop in visitors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine as well as the lack of participants from COVID-19 restricted areas such as China and South Korea, we were able to maintain a similar number of international, high-level visitors as in 2018. We even had significant increases from specific regions, such as Latin America,” says Bruno Boroewitsch, Managing Director of com-a-tec GmbH, responsible for the organization and marketing of the fair.
The next UNITI expo takes place 14 – 16 May, 2024 in Stuttgart, Germany.
A moment to remember for all was the now famous UNITI expo Networking Party on Tuesday evening. Celebrated in the entrance of the exhibition centre, attendees could enjoy a great night of music, food and Despitefireworks.the challenging context, visitors, exhibitors and organizers branded the event a total success. The UNITI expo team were happy with the level of attendance and the support shown by the industry.
The ‘Technology, payment & logistics’ area covered Hall 3 and the entire Hall 5. New types of fuel and digitalization were the main trends on show. International retailers could see the most innovative solutions for tanks, fuel logistics, payments, nozzles and station management.
Petrol Stations Numbers –The Challenges for the Industry
Data from Experian Catalist just released has recorded that the number of Petrol Filling Stations in the UK has remained stable over the past 12 months with, at the end of the year, 8,381 fuel forecourts in the UK – a reduction of three on 2020 numbers. This total represents the lowest number of fuel retail outlets operating in the UK since records began. In 1964 it is estimated that there were some 39,000 petrol filling stations selling petrol to the public in the UK, and while this is a large number the Petroleum Licensing Authorities recorded at their peak 55,000 petroleum licences issued to premises storing petrol. Making around 16,000 sites not for resale but being private companies, the Utilities, such as Gas and Electricity providers, bus companies, local authorities etc in fact everyone who at that time stored petrol for their own use. They were required to have a licence from the Petroleum Licensing Authority of which there were around 1500 authorities at that time.
The reduction of filling station numbers and the closure of sites around the UK has resulted in a big increase in the business of making safe of petrol filling stations including the removal of disused petrol tanks. There have therefore been some 46,500 licensed sites storing petrol which have been discontinued over the Thisyears.hasbeen
23APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
The number of petrol stations in the UK is reducing but this is causing other difficulties for the industry.
However, within The Bulletin over the years we have recorded accidents, explosions and deaths when people have not been so aware of the hazards while carrying out this work. One of the problems that the regulators face is that many of the Petroleum Licensing Authorities changed when regulation changed or boundaries changed and many do not have the information or records of old sites with disused tanks.
By Jamie Thompson, APEA Technical Chairman
a challenge for Regulators and Industry alike and making safe a site from both explosion and environmental risks is covered in Chapter 12 of The Blue Book and there are several competent companies within the UK industry who are very busy carrying out this work.
24 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Articles London was one of the authorities where the changes were minimal and records were reasonable. The size of the reduction from the 1960s when in London there were 4000 petrol stations licensed falling to around 650 today. This means that many sites were discontinued and past policies of allowing tanks to be waterfilled for safety had left a legacy of many old sites which probably had not been checked for years. property that was recently made safe and involved the removal of a number of very old underground petrol tanks. The filling station last operated around 50 years ago and had been left with some tanks empty, a few foam filled and a few water filled.
In recent years the appointment of a dedicated disused tank inspector in London has been successful in identifying and removing tanks from many of those old sites, reducing the dangers of explosion and pollution. An example of the challenges facing the industry was demonstrated at a site outside London and close to residential
25APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
The early tanks had the AngloAmerican Oil company tank manholes and were installed around 1920, over 100 years ago, installed in a brick enclosure covered by sand and in reasonable condition with corrosion but no apparent leaks. Fuel was still in some of the tanks, and these had to be pumped out and petrol removed from site. Other tanks installed much later showed signs of leakage and the site was eventually made safe and any pollution cleaned up with the site to be used to build shops and offices. The problems Petroleum Enforcement Authorities often face is the lack of sufficient records to show that tanks were on the site. In addition, it is considered by many that the enforcement powers under Section 73 of The Public Health Act 1961 are outdated and need modernising and should cover both Environmental and Explosion risks.
Dagmar explains: “Enemed is Malta’s leading fuel distributor and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Maltese state owned Petromal Company Ltd. Having met us at an industry exhibition in Poland in 2019, they quickly committed to install our SECU MultiTank system across their network of 70 fuel forecourts and on 12 of their tankers.”
Operating a fuel distribution terminal delivering automotive fuels to petrol stations across the Mediterranean island, Enemed road tankers are loaded with different types of products for each trip. In spite of the trucks being equipped with visual aids to indicate which product had been loaded in each compartment, mistakes were unfortunately being made during the discharge operation at petrol stations and storage tanks, resulting in petrol station fuel chambers being cross-contaminated.
“The SECU MultiTank system, however, uses a digital means of identification of the fuel type and so no two products, irrespective of how similar their physical characteristics are, can be blended with each other. This was the gamechanging benefit that prompted our decision to install the SECU MultiTank Whilstsystem.”cross-fill prevention isn’t a legal mandate, the majority of incidents happen due to human error. Philip Borg explains: “When a cross-fill happens it then becomes a major problem. The fuel mixture has to be pumped out of the tank and replaced with fresh fuel. Dealing with the fuel mixture is also an issue as it has to be blended, downgraded or disposed of. If no one was aware of the cross-fill after delivery, the fuel would then be dispensed to vehicles and the situation becomes much worse, as vehicle owners then need to be compensated for any repairs.
STA Technical’s strategic partners, Secu-Tech, share details of their latest cross-fill prevention project for Enemed, Malta’s leading fuel distributor. Global supplier of systems and solutions for safe and efficient fuel distribution, Secu-Tech, has successfully completed the installation of its cross-fill prevention system with Enemed, Malta’s leading fuel distribution Workingcompany.with STA Technical as its exclusive distribution partner here in the UK, Dagmar Höckner-Schallmeine, managing director of Austrian-based Secu-Tech shares details of the transformative Maltese project.
Ing Philip Borg, chief officer operations at Enemed says: “In view of the recurrence of these incidents we went in search of a technical solution. Whilst all the systems we considered could prevent the discharge of gasoline into diesel tanks and vice versa, all the systems except SECU MultiTank, depended on the density of the fuel for identification, meaning it could not prevent the discharge of different grades of the same type of fuel from being contaminated, i.e. normal RON95 gasoline could be discharged into a storage tank of highoctane gasoline.
With the contract started in March 2020, at the start of the Covid pandemic and completed last June, SecuTech’s award-winning Multi-Tank cross-fill prevention technology has been installed across Enemed’s tanker fleet and forecourt portfolio.
“Recovery incidents cost us around €500 in man-hours. Other expenses are more difficult to cost and vary from one incident to another depending on how many motorists, if any, are involved. The other issue to factor in is reputational damage, which is potentially the most harmful, and cannot be costed.”
By Dagmar Höckner-Schallmeine, Managing Director of Austrian-based Secu-Tech (Security & Electronic Technologies GmbH)
With the installation of SECU MultiTank system across most (some small stations with direct drop fill system could not accommodate the equipment on the tank fill line as this rises above the ground level) of Enemed’s Maltese network now complete, the fuel company is reaping the numerous benefits of the innovative technology. Dagmar continues: “Our system also records any unauthorised opening of the valves before unloading, records data such as when the truck was loaded, the route taken on its journey to make the delivery and the times of these activities.”
SECU MultiTank tanker connectors SECU MultiTank connections at the fill point
26 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles Reputation Saving Cross-Fill Prevention System Wins the Day for Malta-based Fuel Distribution Leaders, Enemed
27APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
Looking at the advantages the system provides, Philip says: “Completely eliminating the waste of time cross fill incidents take to deal with, we are delighted to report there’s been no contaminated product to recover since the system’s installation, which also means our reputation stays intact. And our truck drivers are saying they now feel more comfortable when delivering the fuel because they know that the chance of making a mistake is mitigated before they start Secu-Tech’sdischarging.”managingdirector, Dagmar Höckner-Schallmeine, concludes: “It’s great to know that Enemed is now benefiting from the peace of mind and potential cost-savings our cross-fill prevention system provides. With other major SECU MultiTank projects having been recently completed for OMV in Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, Warren Peters at STA Technical is able to assist with any enquiries from companies here in the UK looking to learn more about our innovative technology.”
For further information contact Warren Peters at: info@statechnical.com or visit www.statechnical.com
For full details of Secu-Tech’s range of products visit: www.secu-tech.at All hooked up and ready to drop the correct fuel in the correct tank
With installation of Secu-Tech’s system on both the road tankers and the forecourts’ storage tanks quite an easy operation, an installer from Secu-Tech’s head office in Austria visited Malta to undertake the first truck installation, with the rest of the project undertaken by Enemed’s staff. Philip Borg continues: “It’s also really important to mention that the support of Secu-Tech was of the highest level, prompt and continuous. The installation of the first trucks and petrol stations were monitored on site by one of their technicians, enabling any early day snags to be easily and efficiently ironed out. Back-end support is also of the highest level.”
Preparing to load at the terminal
It’s no secret that significant investment is required to ensure the Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is in place to meet with demand. Often installed at existing fuel forecourts and service stations, these locations are not without their challenges. Here, Tim Sandberg, Product Manager at Aliaxis, explores the importance of protecting new electrical infrastructure from fuel contaminants and the solutions available to help. As we move further down the road to Net Zero, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars are expected to be banned from 2030. The hope is that one in every three cars on our roads will then be electric. However, if this is to be realised, significant investment is required in order to ensure that the EV charging infrastructure is in place to meet with the projected future demand. In its new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy document, the UK Government has pledged £1.6bn of funding to support the continued roll-out and installation of EV charging points. Already we are seeing an increase in the number of EV charging points available. At the end of April 2022, there were 31,507 charging points across the UK available at 19,707 charging locations –excluding home or workplace locations. This marks a 35% increase
28 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles EV Charging Infrastructure that’s Built to Last
By Tim Sandberg, Product Manager at Aliaxis
Fortunately, there are various options available to help protect the electric cables installed in potentially contaminated ground. One of those is to purchase superiorgraded cable, which is available pre-protected. However, this does often come at a higher price-point, further pushing up project Alternatively,costs. there are conduit solutions on the market that have been specifically developed for these fuel court applications, which standard electrical cable can be safely installed within. This conduit then acts as a barrier, protecting the cable from potential fuel spillages, fuel leakages and contaminated ground.
As such, it’s important that designers and contractors consider this when specifying and installing new EV charging stations. While there are not currently any set standards for cable protection in this particular industry, if electric vehicles are to be the future then it is vital that the infrastructure is not only in place but is built to last.
One of the primary locations of these new public charging points will be at existing fuel forecourts and service stations. However, this isn’t without its challenges. After years of use, forecourts will likely have contaminated ground from ageing infrastructure, with the potential for fuel spillages or leaks. As such, it’s important to ensure that any new electrical infrastructure installed (such as cables) are protected from the risks of corrosion or deterioration.
29APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
When exposed to fuel and/or other chemicals, the effect on plastic cables can be damaging, with the potential for fuel to permeate through and corrode the plastic material. While the metal cable itself is already protected within a plastic sleeve, this has limited resistance to fuels and their vapours.
Articles in the number of devices since April 2021. And this number is only set to rise further, with the government expecting around 300,000 public chargers as a minimum by 2030.
30 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
By Bill Gockman, Senior Global Product Manager, Franklin Fueling Systems
Do
The PLX Electrical Conduit forms part of the wider PLX offering from Aliaxis, a complete range of specialist welded pipework systems for the safe transfer of fuels and their vapours.
Articles As well as looking for a conduit system that is multi-layered, the most critical element for asset owners is ensuring that the system contains an aluminium layer, for it is this that offers the protection against fuel Unlikepermeation.internal barrier alternatives, the PLX Electrical Conduit available from Aliaxis UK is specifically designed to prevent any fuel from entering the pipework (and in turn, attacking the cable within) from the external environment. It is designed with a unique double-bonded five-layer construction, comprising an internal black polyethylene (PE) host pipe, an impermeable aluminium barrier layer - which stops the ingress of any contaminants that may be present in the ground - and an outer orange PE protection layer, along with two adhesive tie layers.
For more information, please visit: www.aliaxis.co.uk.
The original function of an Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG) was to automate the monitoring of fuel levels in storage tanks, reducing onsite exposure for store personnel. Eventually, ATGs took on more functionalities including the monitoring of containment spaces for the presence of water and fuels, indicating there may be a leak in the system. As time passed, fuel operations for retail petroleum sites have grown in complexity and the needs of marketers have expanded. Now, more than ever, marketers are relying on their ATGs to do more in an effort to manage their operations as efficiently as possible.
The EVO™ Series family of automatic tank gauges from Franklin Fueling Systems includes a full line of innovative ATGs, right-sized for each market, with advanced automation and control features for virtually any application. EVO™ Series ATGs let marketers take complete control of their fuel inventory management and environmental compliance monitoring, plus a multitude of additional new monitoring and control features. A cutting-edge remote web interface gives marketers all the tools needed to make data-driven decisions whenever and wherever.
For the on-site ATG users, the EVO™ Series has the industry’s easiest-to-navigate user interface – there are six customizable one-touch buttons that allow users to customize the interface to their needs, a shallow quick jump menu, and intuitive icon-based structure. These features allow users the ability to customize More With Your ATGs
Advanced Submersible Pump Control Operate as efficiently as possible by connecting an EVO™ Series ATG with submersible pumping systems through Turbine Pump Interface (TPI), a standard feature on all EVO™ Series ATGs. Through TPI the ATG acquires access to the submersible pump controller status and can react with intelligence beyond a standard pump controller. Once connected, the devices share data providing enhanced system capabilities like pump in water automation, clogged STP intake escalation, tank levelling, tank priority, and more.
Precision Leak Detection Connect an ATG with the UPP® and APT® pipework systems to detect leaks through a transducer device installed in the submersible pump. A pressure-based system, Electronic Line Leak Detection (ELLD) uses line information to monitor for changes in pressure indicating a tight line or potential leak. Paired with AutoLearn® Technology an ELLD learns the characteristics of each pipe for precision leak detection constantly collecting information to ensure accurate analysis. Statistical Line Leak Detection (SLLD) is a standard feature that allows busy sites with high fuel sales volume and very few quiet periods of no dispensing to achieve 0.2 gph leak testing. Monitor and Maintain Your Flow Rates Monitoring for slow flow rates can identify a dispenser filter that needs to be changed. Improve and maintain flow rates with the ability to detect and react to potential slow flow issues before they impact business with Flow Rate Monitoring. As a software option to the EVO™ Series, Flow Rate Monitoring delivers ongoing flow rate performance data, including flow rates for each fueling point,
Get the Most Out of Your Probes
31APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles their experience and access the information they want and need, faster. Not only that, users can securely connect directly to an EVO™ Series ATG from any web enabled device through FFS PRO® Connect with no app required. Out of the box, EVO™ Series ATGs have pre-configured hardware and customizable software options that provide straightforward tank level monitoring and compliance. The EVOTM Series takes ATGs further by connecting marketers to our extended application offering, tailored directly to today’s marketer needs. EVOTM Series ATGs offer advanced features and capabilities to manage entire systems as efficiently as possible.
No matter what the monitoring application is, Franklin Fueling Systems offers a probe tailored to the specific requirements. Pair inventory and leak detection probes with an EVO™ Series ATG that provide marketers a highly accurate inventory management and tank leak detection solution with fast and simple installation and setup. Vibrating probes use a pulse to reduce the risk of stiction providing higher accuracy readings, all of which report back to the EVO. Digital probes utilize digital communications and magnetostrictive position measurement technology for highly accurate tank level readings. A Phase Separation float kit protects a site from the dangers of undetected water and phase separation. Further, a Density Float Kit offers fuel inventory monitoring, water level detection and fuel quality monitoring all in one kit. Density Float Kits continuously monitor the density of stored fuel with programmable high- and low-density alarm points. A Density Float Kit helps monitor fuel quality, identify adulteration and detect cross drops, enabling you to react quickly before the fuel system, or a customer’s vehicle, is damaged.
32 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Remove Water, Prevent Corrosion A Marketers list of maintenance initiatives they must keep track of goes on and on. With the influx of corrosion-related maintenance issues, how can marketers add anything more to their plate? Marketers can leverage EVO™ Series ATGs to fully automate their corrosion mitigation efforts. EVO™ Series ATGs are taking the leap forward in providing automated system control and facilitating new corrosion monitoring capabilities. The fully integrated Corrosion ControlTM System provides in-tank and in-sump corrosion prevention by proactively removing water from the tanks with the Corrosion ControlTM Water Separator. Access the system data including Water Separator status, water levels, flow status and more through the Corrosion™ Application.
Articles and notifies operators if transactions dip below a user-defined point. It monitors for consistent dispenser output with daily reports and alarm notifications regarding flow rate performance. Sales and dispensing duration data is automatically reconciled to help better understand performance of each fueling point.
Security at Your Site EVO™ Series ATGs help keep sites compliant while providing marketers with the highest level of protection from security threats facing our industry. With EVO™ Series ATGs, marketers can create unlimited customizable user roles within their organization to control who has access to certain data. With third-party verified
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evolving capabilities to make fuel management easier for every user. The system itself possesses greater processing capabilities, reducing the time needed to update firmware and configurations and keep marketers updated with the most recent capabilities without having to take their sites offline for extended periods of time. With frequent firmware updates, the EVO™ Series is continually updated to provide new features from marketer-driven feedback.
Articles
security, data is protected through the latest in industry standard TLS/SSL protocols to ensure data encryption between web browsers and the ATG. Taking security one step further, EVO™ Series ATGs support MQTT protocol, the standard for IoT messaging for enhanced security of data transmission.
Find the right EVO™ Series ATG by QRgo.franklinfueling.com/EVO_UpgradevisitingCodebelow APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Never Stop Evolving Considering replacing an existing ATG? The EVO Series represents the next step in the evolution of tank gauges. Evolving with the changing needs of station owners and operators the EVO™ Series provides ever-
Is using sand to treat a gasoline really an inexpensive option? The full cost of “responding to a fuel spill” must include the absorbent cost, labour, and disposal.
Absorbent Cost: sand is inexpensive, ranging from £0.11-0.30 per KG.
34 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
Stop Using Sand On Fuel Spills
Markus Hilpert, senior study leader and senior scientist, stated that “Gas Station owners have worked very hard to prevent gasoline from leaking out of underground storage tanks, but our research shows we should also be paying attention to the small spills that routinely occur when you refill your vehicle’s tank.”
To the untrained eye, most observers would say that spilled gasoline evaporates and goes away by itself. In a study published in the Journal of Contaminant Hydrology by researchers from Johns Hopkins, experiments were conducted to learn just how much gasoline is spilled and where it goes. The results were surprising. The researchers estimate that 1,500 liters of gasoline are spilled on the average petrol station each decade.
By Mike G Zahajko, Executive Vice President, CAF
Since the first petrol station was built in 1905, fuel spills continue to be a common occurrence that causes millions in property damage, injury, and deaths each year. Surprisingly, over 100 years later most petrol station operators respond to spills with the same technology – ordinary sand! In the United States, December 2020 data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recorded 4,150 fires at gas stations. These fires caused 43 injuries, $30 million in direct property damage, and 3 deaths. Unsurprisingly, the item most often first ignited was “flammable or combustible liquids”.
Disposal Cost: containing and disposing of hazardous waste is expensive, typically ranging from £500-1000 for a drum. As a “waste generator”, in some jurisdictions the generator owns the waste forever.
Why is sand used? It is cheap, readily available, and absorbs spilled petroleum products.
In addition to a high total cost, sand and other absorbents fail to address the primary safety issue of a fuel spill – FLAMMABILITY. Throughout the process the sand continues to be highly flammable, which creates a significant safety concern that endangers the responder and customers in the spill area.
Despite being the most common solution for over 100 years, utilizing sand on spills is expensive, labour-intensive, unsafe and
Labour Cost: treating a spill with sand takes 20-30 minutes of labour, with another 20 minutes of waiting to absorb. Assuming £15 per hour of employee costs, that adds £7.50 to the clean-up cost (more than 10 times the cost of the sand). The time study included the time to cone-off the spill, spread the sand, sweep up and bag the contaminated sand and then dispose into the Hazmat barrel.
CAFleaderexecutiveMikefuel-neutralizer.html.https://eu.mycaf.com/react-ZahajkoisanindustryspeakerandthevicepresidentforCAF.CAFisainoutdoorcleaning.Formoreaboutvisitwww.mycaf.com.
35APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles fails to correctly treat gasoline left behind in the concrete. Fortunately, new fire suppression technologies are available and are successful in addressing operational, safety and cost related issues at petrol stations around the globe.
REACT® Fuel Spill Neutralizer uses micro-emulsion to suppress vapors to remove fuel flammability in less than 3 minutes. Additionally, active microbes in the solution use bioremediation to breakdown any remaining hydrocarbons in the surface over time. Bioremediation is an EPArecommended process for using microbes to break down hazardous chemicals and contaminants. Application is simple. Spray REACT over the spill to neutralize the fuel, eliminating flammability and remediating fuel left behind in the surface. No absorbents or disposal is required. Spills can now be treated in less than 60 seconds of labour. It is now safer, easier and less expensive to manage fuel spills.
Learn More at
We believe that developing and maintaining personal relationships whist embracing advancing technology will enable us to continue to grow and secure our company’s longevity for years to come.
Active Connect, the Surrey based Electrical Contractor, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Since its creation in 2002, the owners, Gary Woodland and Mark Billett, have seen the company grow from strength to strength and diversify into many different construction sectors whilst maintaining their specialist status within the Petrol Forecourt Industry.
Gary and Mark saw an opportunity to bring their knowledge, contacts and expertise together to create a new, different type of Electrical Contractor.
The last 20 years have seen Active Connect secure large and diverse projects all over the country ranging from KDRB’s, EV Installations and Pump Replacements to Karting Venues, Retirement Homes and DrewMarinas.Minty,Business Director at Active Connect says “it’s our adaptability and can-do attitude that sets us apart from our competitors. We offer quality, service and reliability and develop strong, lasting relationships that mean our newest clients always become repeat customers.”
36 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
Operations Director, Vic Higgins says “We oversee the development of all our staff whilst promoting a strong health and safety narrative that empowers our staff to always look to work better and safer.”
By Drew Minty, Business Manager, Active Connect
Gary recalls: “Although we started small, we quickly gained incredible support from both our customers and suppliers alike that gave us the foundation to build something special.”
The company grew and they soon had to move out of Gary’s house in Hinchley Wood and a move to their current location in West Molesey was secured. Mark Billett remembers: “It was a very exciting time and the move to our current premises enabled us to add more people to the team and help us expand into different areas.”
The company are proud to now employ 26 members of staff and their collective diversity maintains the company’s forward-thinking ethos of respect and appreciation within the workplace. In fact, the development of staff is considered to be one of the company’s best achievements over the last 20 years and the business takes great pride in seeing so many apprentices develop and gain the necessary experiences to grow and move up within the company.
Active Connect, Celebrating its 20th Anniversary This Year
So, what does the future hold for Active Connect? The Petrol Forecourt Industry is changing and so we’re ensuring that we’re adapting and changing too. We’re now leading specialists in the installation of EV Chargers and have quickly gained vast technical knowledge and experience in this cutting-edge We’retechnology.alsoaware of our impact on the environment and have taken great strides in taking responsibility for our direct and indirect emissions. We have already added all-electric vehicles to our fleet, installed PV at our offices and supplied the workforce with sustainable, recycled workwear clothing to help reduce our own carbon footprint. We have also raised awareness within our organisation by championing our own initiative #active8zero which commits us to achieve carbon neutrality by 2028.
38 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles Ask the Experts
By Brian Humm Editor of The Bulletin and Jamie Thompson, APEA Technical Chairman We are working with an oil company providing their chain of petrol stations with DSEAR and Fire Risk Assessments, and we are getting some push back on a few topics. I hoped you might be able to provide some clarity? If works take place such as changing a pump or adding an EV point, would you risk assess the full site and not just that area or change? My thought is that the DSEAR risk might have changed at the site so the whole site would need to be assessed. Would you say that is the correct course of action? At what point would a petroleum officer or person of authority take away a licence to operate? Would an out of date DSEAR or Fire Risk Assessment be enough of a reason? If so, is there a period of time that would be considered totally unacceptable for an assessment to be out of date? The action of installing an EV charging point and a straight forward pump/dispenser change would not constitute a prescribed material change so therefore no notice is required under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014, however in advice given by the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group (PELG, which is an HSE committee for petrol safety) states within PELG PETEL 20, Electric vehicle charging equipment on petrol
39APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles forecourts, advice as to the liaison and the information that is required to be given in EV charger installation, it also has a template letter, within appendix A, that can be utilised to inform installers etc. of their responsibilities, for example informing the local fire service of the additional risk at the filling station. The document can be found prescribedstorageInthisTheperiodsgenerallymeanschangeassessmentsTheSafety)riskbecauseDSEARInpetrol-forecourts.pdf241/PELG-PETEL-20-Electric-vehicle-charging-equipment-on-https://publishing.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/636at:regardtoDSEAR,therewillneedtobeareviewoftheexistingassessment,andtheEVchargingwillneedtobeadded,ofthepotentialextrariskaddedtotheforecourt,alsotheassessmentcarriedoutundertheRegulatoryReform(FireOrder2005willneedtoincludetheEVchargingaswell.timelimityoumentionisapplicabletoareview.Allriskmustbereviewedperiodicallyorwhenamaterialtakesplace.Thereisnoguidanceastowhatperiodicalinanactualtimeframebutasaguide(thatIuse)it’severy3years,butyoucanjustifylongerorshorterifneeded.PETELalsogivesgoodadviceonalltheguidanceavailablefortypeofoperationinrespectofEVchargers.regardtotheenforcementpartofyourquery,thepetroleumcertificateforasiteremainsinplaceuntilthereisamaterialchange,asdefinedwithintheregulations,or the site ceases to store petrol. This means that a Petroleum Enforcing Authority cannot revoke a petrol storage certificate at any premises - all enforcement now comes within the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and DSEAR and can comprise verbal advice, an initial infringement letter, an improvement notice and in the most severe cases a prohibition notice for all, or part of the site or process can be issued.
Jamie Thompson APEA Technical Chairman
The flame arrestor manufactured to this old standard is no longer accepted and must be replaced with one that has been manufactured and tested by a notified body to comply with EN ISO 16852 as stated in The Blue Book. This is a legal requirement under the ATEX Directive which is part of UK legislation. You can check compliance if you have doubts by asking for the manufacturer to send you a copy of the test certificate which will be issued by the notified body when testing the flame arrestor.
Brian EditorHummofThe Bulletin I have recently inspected a brand new filling station and when checking the vent arrangement, I found that a new flame arrestor manufactured in the UK had a marking that it complied with BS 7244, however this standard is not mentioned in The Blue Book which asks for a different standard. Is it OK to accept BS 7244 standard?
40 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles
By Clare Scawthorn, Technical Manager, RMIF
Government Release New Regulations Mandating the Installation of Electric vehicle Charging Equipment
On the 15 June 2022 The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 came into force and saw the introduction of Approved Document S ‘Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles’. These regulations legally mandate quotas for installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure at buildings in England and set out minimum standards for charging equipment and cabling. What are the quotas? Quotas are stipulated for residential and nonresidential properties, whether they are new build or undergoing major renovation. For non-residential properties the requirements are: Where a building which is not of residential or mixed-use, be it a new build or undergoing major renovations, will have 10 or more parking spaces upon completion (a) one of those parking spaces must have access to one electric vehicle charge point; and (b) cable routes for electric vehicle charge points must be installed for at least one in every five parking spaces. Note: some exemptions apply. What does this mean for fuel retailers?
The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act has a section which allows for future regulations to also be made to place quotas on large fuel retailers and service area operators. As things currently stand, this section of the Act has not been brought into force, there is no legal definition for either term, and so there are no quotas specifically being placed on fuel retailers. It is important to note that the requirements within the amended building regulations may still apply at filling stations should a new build or major refurbishment of a building on the site meet the criteria in the regulations/Approved Document S. Where can I find more information? You can download a copy of Approved Document S, which includes the regulations and supporting information, 57375/AD_S.pdf/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/10https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmentfrom:
By Magnus Persson CTO, Malte Fuel & Wash AB
Swedenwww.maltefw.com
A compact movable fueling unit with a range of product, is a flexible way for handling fuels for the future, says Daniel Salomonsson CEO It can easily be relocated, due to how the market is changing in different areas. When all fuels a stored above ground, the enviromental control is so much easier.
42 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Magnus Persson, CTO of Malte expects the demand for fuel alternatives to continue to increase. “Especially for rural regions and smaller towns, such a tank container is an ideal option,” he Malte’ssays.
This car is made by Geely in China and is equipped with a combustion engine adopted for methanol with 500 ppm lubricants mixed in the fuel.
The Swedish manufacturer Malte Fuel & Wash, showed a compact tank container for methanol at Uniti expo in Stuttgart. With this solution, which is also available for other fuels such as RME, ED95 or HVO. Filling station operators can also expand their product range at existing stations with a manageable investment as required. The above ground solution from Malte, can also be fitted for all type of normal fuels, as Petrol, Diesel and GTL, with total storage capacity up to 76000 litres in 5 compartments.
Driving with E-Methanol The Fuel for the Future
largest customer in this area is Circle K, which operates around 3,000 filling stations in Europe. From October 2022, the first stations will also be located in Germany. There are already some interested parties, as Persson reported. In a near future, our solution will be presented in Netherlands and UK. In addition to the fuel pump and the corresponding pumps and safety devices, the tank container contains two tanks with 2,500 litres of gasoline and 7,500 litres of methanol as well as a small tank with 50 litres of lubricant, but it can easily be expanded to larger Dependingvolumes.onrequirements, a blended mix of gasoline, methanol and lubricants can then be refueled at the pump. Mixtures from M30 to M90 are possible. In addition to an air separator for fuel refuelling, the dosing and mixing system also has vapour extraction to avoid methanol vapour being exposed to people. So that methanol and gasoline can be refueled without confusion and only the approved tanks can be filled, the methanol nozzle is equipped with an RFID sensor. The refuelling process only starts if the car also has an approved RFID chip.
Articles
43APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Articles 72 m3 fuel and 4 m3 adblue in a unit for normal fuel 15,1 m long, High 3,4 m and wide 2,99 m
The jump in thefts comes as motorists face record petrol prices and the AA claimed drivers are “being taken for fools by retailers” as prices continue to climb despite a fall in wholesale fuel costs.
The partnership gives SPAR stores the opportunity to meet rising consumer demand for on-demand delivery with Deliveroo
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently conducting an inquiry into the fuel prices amid claims that the fuel duty cut had not been passed on to customers. Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs that he will carefully consider calls for a “more substantial” fuel duty cut.
SPAR UK has signed a new partnership deal with Deliveroo covering all 2,160 SPAR stores in England, Scotland and Wales.
Drive-off incidents hit record levels as pump prices rise despite drop in cost for retailers, Fuel thefts from filling stations have rocketed to record levels as pump prices continue to climb.
Figures from data firm Experian show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on the Tuesday reached a new high of 191.2p on while the average price of diesel was 199.0p per litre, a fraction of a penny below the record of 199.1p per litre set on the Saturday.
Mr Balmer added that retailers were making “very, very thin returns” and insisted they had passed on the 5p per litre fuel duty cut to drivers.
This new strategic partnership will provide shoppers with more choice and access to essential items from SPAR stores nationwide, delivered to their door by Deliveroo in as little as 20 minutes.
“Our partnership with Deliveroo will enable us to reach more customers, meet their ever-changing shopping habits and drive significant revenue uplift for stores. As our visibility on the Deliveroo platform grows, so will the opportunity for us to differentiate from our competitors,” said Lee Johnson, SPAR UK Strategy and Operations Director.
This new strategic partnership will provide shoppers with more choice and access to essential items from SPAR stores nationwide including their branded filling stations.
The RAC’s Simon Williams said: “Our analysis shows the average cost of a litre of petrol is considerably overpriced. Drivers really should be paying around 186p per litre – five pence less than they are today – if wholesale prices were being reflected fairly at the Mrpumps.”Briggs acknowledged that “fuel prices have gone through the roof” but stressed there is “huge volatility in the market” which means pump prices are largely dependent on the timing of when retailers buy new supplies. He said Ascona Group needs a profit margin of at least 9p per litre to cover costs such as wages and utility bills but in the past two months it has been “lucky to make 7p per litre.
Amid concerns the previous reduction “didn’t really touch the sides” for hard-pressed drivers, he said when challenged in the House of Commons that he will take the recommendations “under advisement”.
Fuel thefts soar 61% as forecourt prices continue to rocket
Drive-off incidents where motorists fill up and leave without paying have jumped 61% in the last year, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). PRA executive director Gordon Balmer said the number of thefts were “going through the roof” and if they continued at this rate for the next 12 months retailers would lose £25 million.
customers having access to around 2000 food and drink products from participating SPAR stores.
From June 66 SPAR stores are available from Deliveroo, with the ambition to onboard as many independent and company owned stores as possible.
Mr Bulmer said PRA members were reporting 10 drive-off incidents per day, as well as an increase in drivers unable to pay for the fuel they’ve taken. He said: “You’re looking at nearly £41 million in terms of cost to industry of fuel either being stolen through drive-offs or people who haven’t got the means to pay. It’s a really difficult issue at the moment, and on the increase.”
According to figures from the RAC, wholesale petrol prices paid by the retailers have been falling since the start of June. The wholesale price including delivery fell from 151.93p in the first week to 146.69p in the week beginning 24 June, while average pump prices rose from 173.26p to 189.37p.
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Asked whether retailers are receiving enough support from the police, he said: “With the pressure on the police over the last few years, many police forces have said ‘It’s not a criminal offence, it’s a civil offence, so you need to deal with it, and if the actual value of the crime is below £100 then we won’t send anyone out to police it’. “This has been raised by myself personally with the Home Office.”
SPAR launches new partnership with
NewsDeliveroo
Petrol station workers are reporting growing abuse from drivers as fuel prices remain at record highs, reports the BBC. Staff are seeing a “huge increase” of verbal abuse from motorists angry at the price at the pump, according to forecourt operator Ascona Group. Petrol debt recovery firm, Forecourt Eye, said staff were dealing with “very combative attitudes” from customers.
Soaring oil prices have pushed up the cost of petrol and diesel. It now costs more than £100 to fill the average car. Fuel prices in the UK have remained at record levels for weeks, as many countries reduce their dependency on Russian oil in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Nick Fisher, chief executive of Forecourt Eye, said petrol station staff were being confronted by customers talking about being “ripped off” and asking questions like “how do you expect me to pay?” He said customers were “becoming frustrated” at the high prices because they had remained high and kept creeping higher. Many petrol stations rely on additional incomes made from sales of groceries, bakery items and coffee, he said. But shoppers will not buy other products from a store where they feel they are being overcharged, he added. Darren Briggs, chief executive of the Ascona Group, said there had been a rise in the number of people who are driving off without paying for their petrol, which he linked to cost-of-living pressures. The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said that petrol theft has continued to rise across the country. Drive off incidents, where a motorist fills up and makes no attempt to pay before leaving, have increased by 61% so far this year, compared with the same period in 2021, according to figures from Forecourt Eye. Mr Fisher said this was putting pressure on margins, and if the current rate of drive-offs continued it would cost businesses £25 million in lost fuel sales over a year.
Forecourt Eye digitally traces and tracks non-payers at more than 1,000 petrol stations and its new clients have doubled in the last two months due to the rise in non-payers, he said.
Mr Briggs from Ascona Group said petrol stations were often not making enough to recoup costs. He said other pressures on margins included a reduction in how much fuel was being sold, as customers tried to save money - with the volume of sales at some sites only at 80% of normal levels. Mr Briggs said it could cost up to £25,000 per month to run a petrol station, covering costs such as wages, utility bills, maintenance, repairs. He said money lost by non-payment was another financial blow.
Petrol station staff abused over high fuel prices
The AA and RAC have both claimed in the last few days that it was unjustifiable that petrol prices continued to rise whilst wholesale prices have fallen. But Gordon Balmer from the PRA insisted its members had passed on the 5p fuel duty cut introduced in March. However, the wholesale costs were very volatile, and over time, they had “overwhelmed” the fuel duty cut, he said.
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MFG is also offering landlords and developers a no-cost opportunity to have guaranteed rental income, improved on-site facilities, and increased site footfall and dwell time through their EV Power brand, which requires no subscription and allows customers to pay for their charge using contactless payment methods or through their app.
But it didn’t take long for fellow Facebook users to spot the mistake, and he soon realised it wasn’t the great deal he initially thought it was after all. Regular fuel customers may be familiar with the error Mike made if they use the pay at pump option. When filling up a fee is taken out of accounts as a pre-authorisation check. This ringfences cash to cover the cost of the fuel and then the actual amount is taken
Thelater.checks are in place at several supermarkets and are there to make sure customers have sufficient funds in their accounts to cover the cost of the petrol.
A driver thought he had nabbed a huge bargain when filling up his car at a Tesco petrol pump - seeing just £1 appear on his account. With petrol prices continuing to soar, it’s no wonder he was excited to stock up on the apparently cheap fuel - but the initial price wasn’t what it seemed.
Mike’s not the only one to get caught out. The pay at pump fee has caused confusion for many drivers in recent months. While some locations charge £1 others can ring-fence as much as £100leaving shoppers short. Shoppers wanting to avoid a pay at pump charge should pay at the petrol station cashier. Be careful, they walk among us!
Tritium is expected to supply more than 100 rapid chargers to Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest independent forecourt operator in the UK.
Making sure not to miss out on the supposed offer, Mike took another three trips to the petrol pump, filling up multiple vehicles. And each time he filled a vehicle, his account appeared to be debited for just £1.
Mike J had visited a Tesco petrol station expecting to put £10 worth of fuel in his vehicle. After checking his bank account, he saw only £1 had been taken out, leading him to believe he had found a massive bargain.
Taking to Facebook to share the “bargain” with others, he said: “It was my lucky day today as I put a tenner of fuel in and noticed it only took £1 on my card, so I went back to the garage and filled it right up, again just £1 taken. “Went home and swapped cars over and filled that up and another £1, so I filled the last car up and another £1. Three cars full for £4 so I put it on a couple of chats, I am letting people know.”
With over 900 sites offering customers a growing dual-fuel strategy and a convenient retail and ‘food to go’ portfolio, MFG is dedicated to keeping UK motorists on the move, according to a press release. MFG forecourts will be the place for high speed, convenient, ultrarapid top-up charging, equipped with Tritium’s 150kW DC fast chargers, which can add 100 miles (160 kilometres) of range to an EV in approximately 10 minutes. “We’re proud to partner with Motor Fuel Group to support their parallel goals of electrifying transportation and enabling a greener and cleaner future by providing customers with readily available rapid chargers across their forecourt network in the UK,” said Tritium CEO Jane Hunter. MFG is investing £400m in their EV strategy, funded entirely by cash generated through their existing business. This investment will support their electrification goals to provide a reliable and practical service for EV customers, by installing 3,000+ ultra-rapid 150kW and 350kW chargers across 500+ sites in the UK by 2030.
Seeing the humour in the situation, Mike said: “Thought it was too good to be true. Never get anything in life for free and I don’t know how I managed to get this far in life.”
Tritium to supply 100 fast chargers to Motor Fuel Group
And others did too with his money-saving “tip” racking up thousands of likes and comments on Facebook. Some commenters noted that they have been caught out by the charge before. Mike added: “Glad my moment has made people laugh a bit, even if it was at my expense which I don’t mind, as life is short so sometimes we need to remember to laugh and have fun.”
In Mike’s case the £1 fee was taken - before he was eventually charged the £40 he owed for his four separate trips.
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“We have been developing this technology for some years now, and it feels great to see the first trucks successfully running on the test track. The combination of battery electric and fuel cell electric will enable our customers to completely eliminate CO2 exhaust emissions from their trucks, no matter transport assignments,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks. To decarbonize transport, Volvo Trucks already today offers battery electric trucks and trucks that run on renewable fuels, such as biogas. In the second half of this decade, a third CO2-neutral option will be added to its product portfolio – fuel cell electric trucks powered by “Hydrogen-poweredhydrogen.fuelcell electric trucks will be especially suitable for long distances and heavy, energy-demanding assignments. They could also be an option in countries where battery charging possibilities are limited,” added Alm. Fuel cell technology is still in an early phase of development and there are many benefits with the new technology, but also some challenges ahead. One of them is large-scale supply of green hydrogen. Another is the fact that refuelling infrastructure for heavy vehicles is yet to be developed. “We expect the supply of green hydrogen to increase significantly during the next couple of years, since many industries will depend on it to reduce CO2. However, we cannot wait to decarbonize transport, we are already running late. So, my clear message to all transport companies is to start the journey today with battery electric, biogas and the other options available. The fuel cell trucks will then be an important complement for longer and heavier transports in a few years from now”, says Roger Alm.
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Swedish truck manufacturer Volvo Trucks has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell truck which the company claims will have a range of up to 1,000 kilometres and a refuelling time of less than 15 minutes. The truck manufacturer says the long range will be able to be achieved with just 15 minutes of refuelling time.
The total weight can be around 65 tons or even higher, and the two fuel cells have the capacity to generate 300 kW of electricity Theonboard.fuel cells will be supplied by cellcentric – the joint venture between the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG. Cellcentric will build one of Europe’s largest series production facilities for fuelcells, specially developed for heavy vehicles.
Volvo unveils hydrogen-powered truck with 1,000KM range
Kalpa Group, owner of the Voy con Energía low-cost fuel retail brand, has received the financing approval to upgrade the fuel production capacity of its Refipampa refinery. By growing from a 750 m3 dairy production to a 2300 m3 daily output, the company aims to expand its network of service stations after having one of its best years in 2021.
“We are continuing with the expansion plan, based on the investment in the refinery, with which we will be able to enter the market to continue supplying vending machines and other segments. And surely in the second half of 2022 we will have more stations identified to move forward”, said Osvaldo Valsangiacomo, Fuels Business Manager of Voy Con Energía, in an interview with the site. In addition, the company is also revamping its mobile services after launching its Voy Móvil app in 2018. The representative confirmed that a series of enhancements are planned for the platform as well as the inclusion of discount offerings for users.
“We are proud to collaborate with Dubai Police to better serve our growing customer network including the surrounding residential communities with the opening of our newest service station. Through this partnership, we will continue to contribute to the nation’s economic development and energy security in its next phase of growth for a sustainable energy future for all,” said Humaid Al Falasi. Lt. Gen. Al Marri stressed that inaugurating the new service station is within the framework of strengthening relations between Dubai Police and ENOC to ensure the delivery of sustainable services to members of society and contributing to supporting the infrastructure in the Emirate of Dubai per the highest international
Z Energy and NZ Police partnering up to keep Kiwis safe
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ENOC opens new service station with local police Z service stations across the country shared road safety messages on the front of their retail sites.
Z Energy and the New Zealand Police have partnered up to encourage drivers to keep safe on their journeys no matter where on Policeholidays.Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of the National Road Policing Centre, said they know there are more people travelling on the road during long weekends, and that increase in road users means an increase in the potential for mistakes to be made.
The station is strategically located in close proximity to Dubai Police - Dubai Traffic Department to better serve ENOC’s growing customer network in the area. The station is equipped with fully automated fuel systems with auto tank gauging and electronic leak detection systems, which is in line with ENOC’s commitment to foster sustainability across the nation.
Z service stations across the country will be sharing road safety messages on the front of their retail sites and on coffee sleeves to remind drivers to: ‘Always wear your seatbelt’, ‘Slow Down, Arrive Alive’ and ‘Drive without distraction’.
“We saw the terrible result of that last Anzac weekend where 12 people lost their lives. And the harm doesn’t end there. We know that on average, for every person who dies on the road, another seven are seriously injured. That’s why we continue to urge people to drive and ride safely on the road.”
Voy con Energía to expand retail network
The new site is located near the Dubai Police - Dubai Traffic Department to strengthen operations and daily tasks of the public security force. The ENOC Group celebrated the opening of its latest service station alongside the Dubai Police in an event that was led by representatives from both the company and the public force. Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, was joined by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, to officially inaugurate the brand’s newest forecourt.
Thestandards.installation was built with full retail automation and modern construction standards, equipped with full CCTV surveillance and automatic number plate detection cameras to ensure the highest security standards. In addition, it features an attached drive-thru restaurant and a 305 sq.mt ZOOM store.
As reported by local news site Surtidores, the brand plans to open new retail locations in the country during 2022, supported by this increment in fuel production. Currently, the firm has 40 branded stations across Argentina with four more projects on track to be completed in the next months.
International News
Z’s General Manager of Retail Andy Baird recognises the important role Z can play in reaching many Kiwis on the move this long weekend, given its large network of retail sites which stretch the entire length of the country.
“Due to the development of the network, we have to improve the app and refine it, so we are doing tests in Junín and a new application is about to be launched in the market”, added Valsangiacomo. 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
“With 193 Z sites located from the top of the North to the bottom of the South, we will be a key stop on many people’s journey. We’re proud to be partnering with Police to help keep our communities safe by using our retail network as a way of reaching drivers as they fill up, grab a bite to eat, or stop for a coffee on the way to their end destination,” said Greally.
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All checks are divided into two sections – facility controls and station controls. The former includes continuous quality analysis of fuels in the refinery, sampling controls on all types of EKO fuels and monitoring the routes of transport tanks with GPS systems. For stations, the brand checks and seals pumps with quantity assurance tape, runs control programs in collaboration with mobile units of the Fuel Technology Laboratory of NTUA and carries out unannounced quantitative checks by conventional vehicles.
Testing times for the Greek market due to high prices and tampering
Howsociety.fuel
Price peak: The underlying issue that still lingers, regarding the rise of fuel prices, the Greek Government announced the extension of
The ELINOIL brand has implemented a similar system to reinforce its trust with customers through its “Quality Commitment” program to control the company’s fuels and lubricants. The service certifies that the right quantity of fuel is delivered in full thanks to a GPS system and level metres installed in the controlled tankers of the brand’s fleet. These are daily monitors to control their progress and the quantities they deliver. The program also features a series of evaluations for its own vehicles, pumps and deliveries for possible tampered or deficient equipment. Bureau Veritas, one of the largest petroleum analysis laboratories in Greece, is included in this process. The independent certification body carries out sample checks and analyses on ELINOIL products at all stages of the supply chain.
In the last year, Greece has experienced one of the highest rises in energy prices in the region with an annual increase of 61%, the fifth highest rate in the eurozone, according to the latest Eurostat report. Amidst a fuel shortage triggered by the EU ban on Russian energy imports, the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels production and its heavy taxation have resulted in the price of gasoline to reach record numbers, with an increase of 36.6% for fuels and lubricants in just one year. At the same time, drivers have reported several times that they do not receive the exact litres they buy while refuelling, which increases distrust in fuel retailers in an already difficult context. Companies are trying to tackle the issue and ensure their customers are protected while at the pump. In addition, the national government has also announced a series of measures to soften the impact of high prices on the most vulnerable parts of retailers are fighting fuel tampering, EKO has launched a new “Guarantee Program” to control the quality and quantity of its fuel, said Giannis Miaoulis, Marketing Director, in a recent interview with local news site Accesories.autotriti. In collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens, the initiative looks to ensure the quantity and quality of its fuel from the refinery to the customer’s tank through six different control points.
The Minister of Petroleum, Tarek El Molla, specified the details of the initiative during the official announcement. According to a report by local news site Zawya, El Molla declared that this is the first of a series of digital services to provide an integrated system for the management and follow up of the supply of fuel using a smart card instead of coupons. The public official detailed that the new method ensures a safer transportation and circulation of petroleum products as well as preserves the rights of the contracting parties thanks to the data stored in the card. This involves specifying the type of fuel used in vehicles, controlling balances of value and quantities, and creating periodic reports to help decision-makers of contracting authorities. The system is now available at 400 petrol stations throughout the country. The system will be rolled out in cooperation with the e-finance company, which announced that 8,000 POS terminals were made available at Misr Petroleum’s gas stations. This is also part of the transformation process to offer electronic payment service at the stations and a number of different financial services through the deployment of the technology.
To apply for the Fuel Pass, drivers will need to access the official platform with their Taxisnet codes. The official form includes information such as vehicle data, mobile number, e-mail address and bank number. For virtual card and smartphone users, any service station with a POS system will be able to redeem the amount solicited by the customer.
Pilot Company hired industry veteran Joshua Edge, with more than 20 years of experience in fuel distribution and terminal management, to lead the expansion. Pilot Company expands into compressed natural gas
The partnership will help customers increase resources and streamline operations through seamless transitions between field gas and CNG supply for electric power generation without the need for multiple suppliers; access a network of CNG, renewable natural gas, diesel, and hydrogen fuel supply paired with VoltaGrid’s turnkey power generation package; and access Pilot Company’s infrastructure base to supply low carbon fuels for grid reinforcement projects.
Greece’s fuel retail market is composed of a total of 5,500 service stations, all operated by a mix of international and local brands as well as family-owned sites. EKO currently manages the largest network of petrol stations, operating 900 branded forecourts distributed throughout the country. The second largest network belongs to Hellenic Fuels, with 816 sites under the BP brand, something similar for the third spot occupied by Coral with 761 Shell-branded locations. The fourth fuel retail player is Aegean Oil currently operating a total of 700 points of sale across the Greek territory, followed by Revoil with approximately 500 branded stations, and last is Jetoil with a network composed of near 90 locations. The rest of the market is completed by smaller brands and stations scattered throughout rural territories.
50 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk International News Pilot Company has announced its intention to build upon its current initiatives in the alternative fuels space with a new compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen delivery platform. This expansion includes a partnership with VoltaGrid to develop a lowcarbon fuels network that contributes to reduced emissions and decarbonization for third-party customers.
The announcement comes after a recent investment from the company in a large-scale fleet of CNG and hydrogen trailers. Its new partner is scheduled to bring 350,000 gallons equivalent of low carbon fuel to the market daily. The partnership will look at further growth through the joint development of large-scale lowcarbon fuel terminals in 2022 and early 2023.
The retailer has signed a new partnership with VoltaGrid to expand its fuel offer and develop a low-carbon fuels network for thirdparty customers.
Government launches digital system for fuel supply management its “Fuel Pass” initiative last week, a subsidy that ranges from 45 to 100 euro and is set to reach 3 million drivers in the country. The program will run for three extra months, and it’s scheduled to be launched at the end of July. The exact sum that is returned to the driver will depend on three factors: Type of vehicle, motorcycle vs car; place of residence, mainland or the Greek islands; and how beneficiaries choose to receive the subsidy, via bank account or smartphone. Whoever chooses to receive the Fuel Pass on a virtual card on their smartphone will get an extra €15.
“Pilot Company is a leader in fuel supply and distribution in North America, and we are eager to further diversify our business footprint in the alternative fuels space and scale our capabilities to serve the energy, fuel, and mobility industries,” said Joshua Edge, Senior Director of Compressed Gas Operations for Pilot Company.
More than 400 service stations have the new platform available which includes petroleum products as well as natural gas. The Government of Egypt announced the launch of a digital platform for oil fuel and natural gas management at service stations. The new service is part of a wider integrated programme for the digital transformation of the fuel infrastructure in the country.
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The installation is located in the city of Emmen at the GZI Next green energy hub and it will support local public transport company ShellQbuzz.opened its first public hydrogen refuelling station for trucks in the Netherlands. The forecourt is located in the city of Emmen, Drenthe, at the GZI Next green energy hub. The installation located in the northeast of the country is now part of a European hydrogen network for heavy-duty road transport.
Jio-BP to support Nexus Malls’ EV strategy
The Dover Fueling Solutions-owned company has signed a new partnership to expand its retail network across the country. LIQAL has announced an expansion of its liquefied natural gas fuelling station network in the German market. The announcement is part of an ongoing partnership with PitPoint.LNG B.V. to bring a network of fully equipped LNG fuelling stations to drivers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
The country’s central transportation routes are home to high volumes of freight transport, and density of LNG fuelling infrastructure lags behind neighbouring countries. To address this, the German government is providing subsidies for purchasing LNG trucks and exemptions from motorway tolls. “We are proud to work alongside LIQAL to meet the need for network expansion in Germany. The new station in Hirschberg reflects our strong partnership and preparations and we look forward to completing the other LNG fuelling stations in Germany later this year,” added Jan Willem Drijver, Managing Director of PitPoint.LNG B.V.
The joint venture between RIL and BP will roll out EV charging stations and battery swapping locations across the network of stores and malls. Jio-BP has partnered up with Nexus Malls to support its EV strategy for the deployment of charging stations and battery swapping stations. The joint venture formed by RIL and BP will roll out the sites throughout the 17 malls that make up the retail network across 13 cities of India. To accelerate EV adoption, Nexus will encourage its customers to charge vehicles at their malls amongst other environment conscious initiatives. Jip-BP will be in charge of installing 24/7 charging infrastructure for two and four wheeled EVs. In the first phase, these charging stations will be available at Nexus malls in Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad from June of 2022. This announcement comes after the recently announced collaboration between Jio-BP, MG Motor India and Castrol India to further advance the country’s electric mobility. Jio-BP currently operates in this market under the Ji-BP pulse brand, which has a mobile app available in which customers can find nearby stations for EV charging.
“We are pleased to build on our partnership with PitPoint.LNG B.V. and leverage our shared experience and expertise to ensure the best LNG fuelling technology and services for transport companies,” said Joost Jansen, Business Development Manager at TheLIQAL.first step in this partnership involves the new LNG station recently opened at the TotalEnergies truck stop in Hirschberg. The forecourt is conveniently located along a major highway, the A5, connecting Germany and Italy, where Pitpoint will also build its first experience with LIQAL’s automated and low total cost of ownership BTU system to re-liquefy the stations’ boil-off gas on the project site. Both companies will install two additional LNG fuelling stations in Germany in 2022. These new stations will support the demand for LNG in Germany.
The new station will improve sustainability for the national and international transport sector. Last summer, Shell opened the first hydrogen refuelling station for regional bus traffic, together with partners for bus operator Qbuzz in Groningen.
Shell opens hydrogen station for trucks in the Netherlands
“With the opening of the hydrogen filling point, we are taking the next step in the application of hydrogen. We have a leading position in Drenthe when it comes to hydrogen. We want to further strengthen this leading position, preferably across the board. In addition to the production of hydrogen, I am talking about the application of hydrogen in, for example, the manufacturing industry and in mobility,” said Tjisse Stelpstra, Deputy of the Province of Drenthe.
“Hydrogen is an important part of our mosaic of solutions. It is now up to our customers to make the best choice for them,” added Marjan van Loon, President-Director of Shell Netherlands. The public transport company will also refuel in Emmen, using the new location for its ten new hydrogen buses, co-financed by the province. Apart from the vehicles, all hydrogen-powered trucks will be able to fill up at Shell’s hydrogen station in Emmen.
LIQAL to expand LNG fueling network
The newly opened Babina Greda station is the third retail location of the brand in the Zageb-Lipovac route opened in 2022. It also provides customers with a modern and comfortable space for resting during travels, with a fresh offer of food and drinks and fuel supply for vehicles with its line of EVO fuels in one place.
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The company opened a new forecourt located near the ZagrebLipovac highway as the third inauguration of the retail brand in Tifon2022.celebrated the opening of its 50th service station in Croatia as part of the continued expansion of its retail network across the country. The new forecourt is located on the Zagreb-Lipovac highway, near Babina Greda, and offers drivers its EVO fuel and gastronomic offer as part of the Fresh Corner gastro concept.
“Every new point of sale is a great success for Tifon. The number of 50 petrol stations throughout Croatia confirms our strategy of expanding the retail network in all areas of the country. Customer satisfaction and their trust are the reason and incentive for our expansion “, said Siniša Komnenović, President of the Management Board of Tifon. Drivers can refresh and take a break from travelling with fresh and quality products and services at Fresh Corner. The location offers a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, a rich selection of coffees and freshly prepared sandwiches, bakery products and seasonal “Fromsalads.the very beginning, our goal is to be as close as possible to our customers and always offer the highest quality products and services. That is why we are especially pleased with the fact that for many we are the first choice when it comes to top fuels and gastronomic offer on a break from travel”, added Komnenović.
Tifon is part of the MOL Group and has been present in the Croatian market for more than 20 years. The Fresh Corner concept introduced in 2015, within the MOL Group, has recently exceeded 1,000 locations in Central Europe. Tifon reaches 50th service station milestone
The right refuelling and charging infrastructure makes the switch to cleaner and more sustainable transport easier. The opening of our new hydrogen refuelling station in Veldhoven, the fourth operated by TotalEnergies in the Netherlands, is another important step in achieving this goal,” Nathalie Baras, Retail Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Netherlands.
stationsTheinternational energy company opens a new hydrogen station in Veldhoven to cater for light and heavy-duty transport.
“Beyond extracting the most value from their traditional core business, fuel retailers’ survival depends on investing beyond the pump. They need to make ambitious moves into new digital businesses while also adapting the service station to support EV and other alternatives fuels, capitalize on their existing real estate, and zero in on sustainable mobility,” said Mirko Rubeis, a managing director and senior partner at BCG and a co-author of the report.
TotalEnergies opens fourth hydrogen station
The Netherlands has another public hydrogen refuelling station in Veldhoven, the fourth TotalEnergies to open in the country.
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The station is located on a site owned by VDL Group and supplies hydrogen (H2) at a pressure of 700 bar, suitable for passenger cars and other light vehicles, and 350 bar, used mainly for heavy TotalEnergiesvehicles.
By reducing their dependence on hydrocarbons, operators can reduce the volatility of their traditional businesses and position the fuel retail business for long-term success.
•Alternative fuels are no longer optional. Sales of EVs are rising— in some regions, even outpacing those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. BCG projects that by 2030, more than 50% of new light-duty vehicle sales in the US will be EVs. Demand for biofuels is also increasing, and regional partnerships in Europe, China, and the US are being created to enable the mass market rollout of hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty transportation. As a result, 95% of fuel retailers are either already offering or planning to offer EV charging, and 55% are offering or planning to offer alternative fuels.
•Digital technologies are expanding retailers’ capabilities. Around 60% of retailers are using big data analytics to customize their offerings within and beyond the service station. Digital technologies have also enabled individual stations to use dynamic pricing—an important tool for keeping margins high during COVID when volumes plummeted.
70% of fuel retailers plan to expand their network of service
The station in Veldhoven was relocated from another site to find a more suitable location and open to the public.
•Advancing mobility forms are changing usage patterns. The pace of technological development in advanced mobility will change the kind of vehicles—and the type of customers—that show up at the service station. The pool is diversifying from purely selfdriven vehicles to autonomous fleets and from ICE-only to EVs.
in The Netherlands is working to expand its network of service stations with alternative fuels such as biomethane, hydrogen, LNG and electricity. Only last month it opened another hydrogen station in the city of Breda. Together with Arnhem and Delfzijl (buses), Veldhoven is TotalEnergies’ fourth hydrogen site in the “TheNetherlands.Netherlands has high ambitions in the field of sustainability.
According to the report, which is based on a survey of 33 executives from 20 leading global retailers, operators with robust retail businesses found that in-store sales and online offers during the pandemic offset sharp declines in gasoline and diesel sales volumes. More recently, as geopolitical uncertainty and volatility have placed upward pressure on oil prices, many operators have realized that retail is a matter of business resiliency. As such, some 70% of leading retailers are planning to expand their network in the coming years.
•Sustainability is taking root. Regulators are adopting more stringent measures to control CO2 emissions, and price parity between alternatives and fossil gasoline is becoming a reality. More EVs are becoming available at prices comparable to ICE vehicles, while in some regions renewable diesel is approaching the same price point as petroleum-derived diesel. “No single stratagem will be sufficient to overcome the forces of disruption. To stake out a profitable future, fuel retailers must adopt a customer-centric model. Doing so entails taking action in four areas: rethinking their future network, reimagining the station as a mobility and convenience hub, revamping their loyalty and personalization programs, and driving new growth areas beyond the service station,” explains the report.
The fuel industry has long been facing disruptive forces, and these have only accelerated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: electric vehicles and alternative fuels have gained significant traction, mobility usage and attitudes have evolved, and customer behaviour has changed dramatically. A new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), titled A New Era for Fuel Retailers, explores a fuel retail landscape that is evolving at a faster-thanpredicted pace and the strategies fuel retailers must implement to survive and thrive in the face of monumental threats.
According to the consulting firm, five trends in the fuel retail industry stand out in the last years:
•COVID-19 has changed consumer behaviour. Convenience store (C-store) sales in the US are increasing among those fuel retailers that have adapted their offerings to meet rising consumer expectations around convenience. 65% of the fuel retailers surveyed now plan to invest more in their C-stores to enhance the customer experience and improve site efficiencies.
has announced the rollout of contactless payments services across its network of service stations in the country. The news builds upon the company’s relationship with Visa after accepting card transactions back in 2021 to reduce checkout queues, increase operational efficiency and enhance customer “Theexperience.official application of cashless payment solutions to the system of Petrolimex’s petrol stations across the country is part of the strategy of building Vietnam National Petroleum Group into a leading enterprise in digital transformation. This strategy is based on intelligent, safe and innovative technology to optimise serving quality and consolidate the trust and satisfaction of customers,” said Luu Van Tuyen, Deputy General Director – Head of the Cashless Payment of Petrolimex Project.
Petrolimex has installed contactless enabled POS terminals at retail petrol stations nationwide, enabling customers to pay with a single tap of their Visa cards. The newly deployed POS device meets all fire safety regulations, integrates with the pump, and connects wirelessly to serve customers paying right at the pump.
Petronas has announced the establishment of a new clean energy solutions company by the name of Gentari. The new venture will help the state-owned company to produce carbon-free energy and expand its portfolio in renewables. As reported by the Reuters news agency, the new firm will help in delivering renewable energy, hydrogen and green mobility solutions. Its long-term objective will be to become a “full suite net zero solutions provider”, according to an official press release published by Gentari.
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aims to build a renewable energy capacity of 30-40 gigawatt and supply up to 1.2 million tonnes per annum of hydrogen by 2030. In addition, it’s set to capture a 10% share of the EV ecosystem across key markets in the Asia Pacific region such as Malaysia and India.
“By providing sufficient charging infrastructure, we want to increase driver comfort. The ambition is to ensure the accelerated development of public, semi-public and private charging points in Flanders. By 2025, Flanders should have 35,000 charge equivalents and (ultra)fast charging infrastructure every 25 km along the motorways and major traffic axes,” said Lydia Peeters, Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works.
The company has installed contactless enabled POS terminals at its retail sites nationwide thanks to building up its partnership with PetrolimexVisa.
Petrolimex rolls out contactless payments at station network
The company stated that its existing assets and projects include more than 1 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar capacity in India and Malaysia, a pipeline of clean hydrogen projects, as well as more than 220 EVs. Its first clean hydrogen project is due to come onstream in 2025, which is being developed in Malaysia and other Gentarimarkets.
Petronas launches new clean energy company
Allego has installed two fast chargers with a capacity of 300kW with 4 charging spots, all equipped with payment terminals that support mobile and credit card payments. The charging stations themselves will only distribute green electricity and a capacity of approximately 43MWh/year is planned for this location.
The newly revamped site is part of a recent partnership between both companies to modernise 12 service stations and equip them with EV charging stations. G&V Energy Group and Allego have opened their first mobility hub as part of their recent partnership to evolve the former’s network of service stations. The new site is located in the city of Antwerp, the very first fast charging location in Belgium where existing petrol and diesel pumps under the canopy have been replaced by High Power Chargers where EV drivers can charge their electric car sufficiently within 10 to 15 minutes.
G&V Energy Group opens first mobility hub alongside Allego
The newly inaugurated forecourt is the first of 12 locations that will be converted from a traditional petrol station to an energy hub by the end of this year. All 12 locations are co-financed by the European Union. In total, 20 HPC 300 kW chargers and nineteen 150 kW fast chargers will be installed in 6 provinces across “TogetherBelgium.
with Allego, we are proud to announce this strategic and long-term cooperation. Both companies share a similar dynamic and progressive DNA and strive to pioneer the Belgian market for HPC charging. We commit to transforming 100 of our most important petrol stations into modern ‘energy hubs’ equipped with the right facilities and Breakpoint shops for a quick lunch or delicious coffee while charging,” added Xavier Dewulf, CEO of G&V Energy Group.
Vietnam is well on its way to embracing contactless payments as almost half (46%) of local consumers use this payment method, according to Visa’s Consumer Payment Attitudes 2021 study. In addition, 6 out of 10 contactless card users increased their use since COVID-19, while one-third of Vietnamese consumers foresee going cashless for petrol purchases in the future.
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The project meant a nearly $8.5 million investment, which was completed in conjunction with the Government of the State of Mexico. The installation will be responsible for serving the more than 1,100 companies that are based in the north industrial zone as well as the airport’s operations. The newly built station is the sixth location installed by the company in the country. “It ensures the permanent availability of energy for the companies that are betting on industrial development in the north of the Valley of Mexico as well as for the needs generated by the expansion of AIFA’s operations,” stated a press release from the City Council published by local news site Marco Mares.
Valero Energy opens new fuel station in Temascalapa
Valero Energy Corporation has established a new service station in the city of Temascalapa, located in the Valley of Mexico region. The new forecourt is set to meet the high demand of the north region due to the high presence of firms and the newly built Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
Two 19-year-olds killed in petrol station crash
Two 19-year-olds have died, and two other teenagers have been injured after a car crashed into a petrol station. A red Alfa Romeo Mito crashed at the Northway Garage in Bishopston, Gower, Swansea county. A man from Landore and a woman from Blaenymaes died at the scene. A 17-year-old girl from Penlan was airlifted to hospital with lifethreatening injuries and a boy, 17, from Birchgrove was taken to hospital. The victims’ families were told and are being supported by specialist officers. A section of the B4436 was closed for a number of hours so police could investigate. South Wales Police has asked anyone who may be able to help with the investigation to contact them.
After the construction’s completion, Alfredo del Mazo Maza, Governor of the State of Mexico, met with representatives of the company, led by Carlos García Rodríguez, General Manager of Valero Energy Mexico, to discuss the commencing of operations in the station.
Pump calibration just got a whole lot easier for TSG UK with STA Technical’s fit for purpose trolley
“Our new trolley fits the standard 20-litre fuel cannister perfectly and we have used UK-manufactured wheels and handles to ensure the best of British quality and to support UK business.”
On a mission to make life that bit easier across safety-critical environments, including fuel stations, STA Technical has developed a trolley specifically designed to carry the 20-litre fuel cannister used during pump measure checks. It is recommended that fuel dispensers undergo a pump measure check at least once per year, to maintain compliance with the service legislation set by the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS). If recalibration is required, the technician can adjust and restamp meters on the same day. To help with the large-scale execution of these checks, TSG UK Solutions Limited commissioned STA Technical to develop a trolley to carry the requisite fuel cannister from pump to pump during the recalibration STAprocess.Technical Director, Warren Peters, explains: “The more we talk with our clients, the more apparent it becomes that we add value by designing and developing products and components that mitigate the hassle factor when undertaking key jobs on the forecourt.
Procurement Team @ TSG UK Solutions says: “We collaborated with STA Technical to create a prototype of a trolley that would assist our engineers on the forecourts. The prototype was approved by the team at our head office in Dundee and an order was placed for ten trolleys. STA Technical took the time to understand the issue and deliver a product right for the job. The trolleys are already making a difference on the forecourt.”
Warren adds: “A trolley isn’t usually a product that gets much of a fanfare, but for those having to move a full 20-litre cannister around, it’s a bit of a gamechanger. In addition to TSG UK Solutions, a couple of the other major players are currently trialling the trolley both here and in Ireland. And now we’ve got a tried and tested design it can easily be adapted to provide assistance in other scenarios and environments.”
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For full information visit: www.statechnical.com
I have a sense of immense pride and excitement as we start the next chapter at Fuel Storage Solutions. Thank you!”
Marking the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of FSS the Directors hosted a get together for the team which included members of their own family, previous employees, advisors and friends of the business. The sense of family, family values and teamwork are central to the daily operating principles of BradfordFSS.
FSS is an award-winning OFTEC registered provider of complete commercial and industrial fuel storage solutions, from supply to maintenance of tanks for oil, diesel and petrol, plus associated systems including pads, bunds, pipework and environmental controls for the safe storage of all fuel types. Prior to starting FSS Jonathan worked as a Contracts Manager for a company that pressure tested and safety checked underground tanks for Shell, BP, Esso and Total retail sites, and Katharine was a Chartered Tax Advisor for Price Waterhouse Coopers in Leeds.
based Fuel Storage Solutions celebrates 20th anniversary milestone
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The business has ambitious plans for future growth through the development of innovative products and methods to add value to clients including scaling up pipework installations for the transfer of fuel and other products using their patented APIApipe™ cold compression system.
FSS is currently developing their green initiative through the positive reduction of the firm’s carbon footprint. They are consistent donors of charitable funds to initiatives that align with the strong family ethos and values that pervade the business. They obtained the Bronze Armed Forces Covenant in 2020 and the Silver award in 2021 in recognition of the number of veterans that they Katharineemploy.Barnett
articulates the significance of the 20th anniversary milestone and an opportunity to say thank you to talented and dedicated colleagues. “I cannot believe where the time has gone. Our journey has been bumpy and fun, scary and exciting but at the centre of it all and supporting us have been all our colleagues. Every single person who has been part of the FSS family has contributed something that has taken us to the next level, taught us how to do (or not do) things, improved the company that we are, contributed to our growth and left an indelible mark.
On 1st April 2002 husband and wife team Jonathan and Katharine Barnett realised their business dream by launching Fuel Storage Solutions (FSS) from their spare bedroom in Rastrick, Brighouse. Twenty years on FSS has grown into a £4.5m turnover operation employing 38 people. The company is headquartered in a former Methodist chapel in Thornton village which was fully restored and converted by the Barnetts to providing the platform for further growth aimed at achieving £10m turnover in the next 5 years.
The first 18 months of the new venture were challenging; tenacity and patience paid off in 2003 when Jonathan managed to pick up a single visit to a site for a bank, then securing the contract and setting FSS on the path for growth. Testament to their expertise and their customer service ethic, FSS still looks after that site as well as all the bank’s UK sites. With a highly trained in-house Engineering Team, a dedicated Projects Division and a Compliance and Technical Services Division, FSS offers innovative solutions to all sizes of works. Six of the UK’s largest Facilities Management companies are serviced by FSS, whilst other market sectors serviced range from Undertakers to the RAF, Banking to Distribution & Logistics, Food Prep to Pharma and public sector organisations including the Police, Ambulance Services and The Environment Agency. Important contracts for the Armed Forces and the NHS are also serviced.
On our 20th anniversary we thank you all, past and present, for accompanying us on this journey. We thank you for building a company that offers us all a stable environment and, in doing so, creating a secure place that empowers all, is nurturing, where people are supported to grow and advance, and which provides everyone with a glowing future.
The people in the business are what make Fuel Storage Solutions the force that it is. They shape us, they drive us, and their loyalty and dedication push us to places we never thought we would go.
Eurotank Service Group’s Safety Consultant Martin Rackley has been delivering his behavioural safety course to all the operational managers from across the Group. The aim of this session is to identify some common causes for accidents and near misses, and then show how they all have a root cause in incorrect behaviours and attitudes towards safety. The course covers how accidents at work have reduced over the past century and what the causes of this reduction were before addressing why we still can’t get to zero as a society, company or as individuals.
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Martin said: “Behaviours are key if we are to get close to zero. We encourage people to identify and rectify unsafe conditions before a near miss occurs. We provide tips on how best to approach people and to start a safety conversation and look at how perception affects our behaviours. It’s
Behavioural safety is key to keeping teams safe
Press Releases all about empowering people to become more confident and challenge unsafe working both inside and outside the workplace.”
But ultimately, the main driver for wanting to create a contracting business was to be in control of our own destiny, without relying on other people and to do things the right way.
Eurotank Environmental has come a long way since it was incorporated in 2001.
One manager in attendance was Kevin Riley, Site Manager for Eurotank Environmental. He said: “The course highlighted that no matter what experience and skill set any team member currently has everyone must stay vigilant and not become complacent in their role. I found it very useful and strongly believe the course would be beneficial to all team members.”
When I finished my degree I needed to get a job but I was already hooked on the idea of building a business. Geoff didn’t want to get into contracting because he had either worked for big companies like Gilbarco, Tokheim and Micrelec or worked on his own. He definitely didn’t want to employ people, but I wanted to employ many people. It caused a lot of arguments but actually we were both right. He was right about the challenges and I was right about the benefits. So, we created Eurotank Environmental Limited as a vehicle to operate some of the products that he was representing in the UK. We purchased Tanksafe’s endoscope camera and became the sole operators of this technology. There wasn’t enough work for this to keep me busy all the time so I was doing other work like measure checking, ductsealing, chamber sealing and general subcontracted labour. We started doing bigger and bigger projects and the endoscope technology got us involved with some specialist projects that helped build our project management and delivery skills. Having learned a lot from my Dad, who had a very successful career selling equipment in the petrol station industry, knowing how to sell and having the knowledge from being on the tools was a good combination of skills.
Starting with a single engineer in a little bright yellow van carrying out small jobs as a sub-contractor, the business has grown into a group of companies providing retail and commercial customers with a comprehensive range of services to keep their fuel flowing. What sparked the idea for Eurotank I first worked in the family chandlery business – a shop for boat parts and supplies –as a student. My Dad, Geoff Wheeler, was the Sales Director at Micrelec PLC, and when they decided to sell the business to Meggitt Petroleum, he sold his shares and bought the chandlery. A chandlery is very difficult to make money out of and I learnt first-hand about the challenge of paying rent, rates, labour costs etc on a business with over 200,000 products, many extremely slow moving. The business transitioned into The Resin Store where we decanted resin, catalyst and chopped strand matt into smaller quantities. We created a product called Ductsealer 033, which we used to seal electrical conduits that had water transferring through. My first taste of working on a petrol station came at Safeway Bromsgrove, where I got involved in installing the first Ductsealer and got the bug for working in confined spaces. Geoff continued working hard on his own OEM rep business representing companies in the UK and bringing products from Europe. He was the person that introduced the foam filling of tanks to the UK market as well as numerous other products and solutions, including an endoscope camera, which became one of the first products Eurotank operated. During the third year of my degree, I did a placement year at TankSafe Ltd, which was the main applicator of the foam for tanks. I got involved in site work, including tank lining, where I learned more about tanks and working on petrol stations.
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What was your first big break? There were lots of things that led on to bigger things but the biggest break was definitely down to being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment. In 2004, ethanol was launched into the UK. This was the very first time that anybody was really concerned about eliminating water from tanks, which was exactly the solution that the endoscope technology provided. This catapulted us into working with some of the UK’s biggest companies, with further significant growth as biodiesel was introduced. So, biofuel introduction was definitely our first big break.
How did the company ethos come about? The company ethos is about implementing new and advanced technology, using high standards of safety and quality so that these new ideas can Edward Wheeler on 21 years of Eurotank
Europump’s Field Manager Simon Brown added: “The course reinforced how important it is to keep the safety message active within our teams and not to let the little things slip as this is what allows the bigger incidents to happen.”
What are you most proud of? When we were first starting out, I didn’t appreciate just how big a challenge it was going to be to build a business. We didn’t have a big pot of cash to invest in people and equipment; we had to build up slowly, putting any money generated back into the business. It’s a very stressful thing to do because everything you’ve worked for and created is tied up in a going concern, which if it fails, means everything you’ve worked for has been lost.
65APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Press Releases be embraced by all fuel operators, from oil companies to individual site owners. At the beginning of the Eurotank journey I spent a couple of weeks in Norway being trained by the inventor of the endoscope system. What he was teaching me was not just about being able to use the equipment but giving me the knowledge to become an expert in the field. He gave me the confidence to go back to the UK with this equipment and provide consultancy and advice, even to fuel specialists/chemists in oil companies because the practical understanding of what happens inside tanks was not known or Itunderstood.wasdrilled into me that this was a highly specialised service that meant we had to be the best at what we do and we should stay as a specialised contractor, dealing directly with the customers. Although we have grown into a contractor that pretty much does everything on a forecourt, we’ve tried to keep to the same approach by investing in the best equipment and doing things that others don’t like to do, like carrying out major fuel system works on live sites. Solving challenging problems is what Eurotank is all about. What industry changes impacted? The introduction of biofuels has had the biggest impact. It has required the development of an entire fuel and tank maintenance industry that barely existed before because mineral fuels required almost no husbandry. The introduction of ethanol and methanol has also caused major
It’s a very personal experience, with far more setbacks than steps forward. It definitely feels like the mentality of having to get back up every time you are knocked down applies to creating a business. So, for Eurotank Environmental to still be trading and growing after 21 years is probably the thing that makes me most proud.
Along the way we have created and developed a great team of people, been recognised with a lot of industry awards and have a very extensive customer list, which are all things to feel proud of as well.
problems that have needed to be fixed as many fuel systems have critical components within them that were not designed to store fuels containing alcohol. The more biofuel added into the mix, the greater the challenges. Eurotank was in the right place at the right time and has ridden the wave of growth within the industry caused by all of the fuel composition changes. Until the early 2000s fuel and fuel systems had barely changed or evolved in comparison to the last 15 or so years. It’s been an exciting time to be involved in the industry.
•In 2022, ISTOBAL will continue to focus on the expansion of sustainability and digital transformation as a way to drive its ISTOBAL,growth.the leading Spanish group in vehicle wash and care solutions for the automotive industry, grew by 13.4% in 2021 and recovered pre-pandemic turnover levels, reaching a turnover of 145.7 million euro. In addition, the company has recorded an EBITDA of 14.4 million, which represents a 61.2% increase compared to the previous year.
What have been the biggest challenges? I could definitely write a book about this after 21 years. Finance is a big challenge because when you are growing, even if you are profitable, all your working capital is invested in the business. Being a contractor is not a cashflow positive operation. I really envy companies that get paid for their goods and services before they have to pay their costs. You have to be so careful that you don’t grow and trade yourself into problems.
The other major challenge has been growing as a leader, which is not my natural disposition, from a small specialist contractor into an organisation with more than 130 people. I was an MD in my mid 20s and had no experience of running a business. There were some benefits to this in terms of determination and willingness to take risks and embrace new technology, but there was an awful lot of learning on the job and learning from mistakes. It still feels like the beginning because, as the company grows, there are a new set of challenges to overcome.
What’s next? Change is good as long as it is embraced and opportunities taken advantage of. At a high level, all of the current fuelling facilities in the UK are likely to change in the next 30 years, which is a huge amount of work to be done at a comparatively fast pace. Fuel will be around for a long time and our services will still be needed so a complete revolution is not what we need to do. We need to have an eye on the future, though, and we will change our business as customer needs change. We will look to provide solutions to problems as they arise by understanding them and looking around the world for solutions we can use if we can’t develop our own.
Lastly, my first commercial experience of working in the family chandlery was that we were tied into a long, 21-year lease. We could have bought the building outright over 20 years with a commercial mortgage so I’ve always resented paying rent to a landlord. We now own our depots in Scotland, Stoke, Southampton and our office in Sowerby Bridge so in the future, when the mortgages are paid off, we will have a significant value of property assets in the business, which gives me a great sense of satisfaction.
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•Among its foreign subsidiaries, the US stands out with a 43% increase in turnover, followed by Brazil with a 33% increment, while Italy, Sweden and Austria both grew by more than 20%.
•The company internationalises 75% of its production, with France, Italy, the USA, the UK and Denmark, in that order, becoming its key export markets.
As its pre-audit results show, ISTOBAL closed its 2021 financial year with a positive performance thanks to the recovery of the sector, as well as the development of new products and services adapted to the needs of companies linked to the car wash business, which stand out by their high profitability and the best user experience. In 2021, 75% of the company´s turnover had an international scope, and the key markets were in this order: France, Italy, the US, the UK and Denmark. Israel also entered the top 10 key markets for the company. Among its foreign subsidiaries, of particular note is the ISTOBAL Group grows by 13.4% in 2021 and regains prepandemic turnover levels
The Spanish group has reached a turnover of 145.7 million euro and recorded an EBITDA of 14.4 million euro, an increase of 61.2% compared to the previous year.
With ten subsidiaries and four manufacturing plants in Europe, the Americas and Asia, ISTOBAL will drive growth this year in key geographic markets such as the United States and China, among others. In addition, in 2022 it has intensified its presence at international trade fairs in the sector with participation in more than a dozen strategic events for the company.
What started with a wooden cabinet in 1962 has become one of the broadest product ranges in leak prevention technology. It all began with Dr. Fritz Berg, the father of today’s company owner, and his innovative idea of active soil and groundwater protection caused by leaking tanks. It was back in the 1960s when an increasing number of single-walled steel tanks storing heating oil started leaking and caused heavy environmental damage. As a result, national legislation on water protection had been tightened considerably to avoid those liquids hazardous to water entering and polluting the soil any longer. It was at that time that Dr. Fritz Berg developed the first leakage monitoring on a pneumatic basis. This was the birth of SGB.
By product divisions, rollovers continue to lead ISTOBAL’s sales in 2021. Additionally, the lines that have experienced the greatest growth have been: the connectivity division, with figures 41% higher than the previous year’s, as well as water treatment, jet wash and commercial vehicles, with increases of around 20% compared to 2020. In 2022 ISTOBAL will continue to focus on international sales, sustainability and digital transformation to strengthen its leadership in the vehicle wash sector. The recent entry of Inversiones Herrecha (Hortensia Herrero’s holding company) with a 22% stake in ISTOBAL’s capital will contribute to boost the company’s strategic projects and expansion plans in the coming Theyears.group will continue to leverage new technologies to develop disruptive solutions that enhance the user experience of automotive wash solutions and bring value to the customer, increasing profitability, sustainability and safety in the vehicle cleaning business. To this end, digital transformation will continue to be a priority within the organisation, both for the development of products, processes and strategies. ISTOBAL’s goal is to create a data-driven culture with business intelligence at all levels of the organisation, promoting business growth, competitiveness levels and increasing the efficiency of production processes. In terms of sustainability, the company will continue to promote the development of pioneering solutions that reduce the consumption of water, energy and chemicals in vehicle washing without affecting the quality of the end result.
ISTOBAL is a Spanish company based in Valencia, leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of vehicle wash and car care solutions. Since 1950, the company has provided the sector with innovative products for excellent vehicle care that guarantee an outstanding user experience. It exports its products to more than 80 countries, working with an extensive network of distributors around the world. It has ten subsidiaries and four manufacturing and final assembly plants in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Currently, 75% of its production corresponds to international sales.
The Siegen-based company performed true pioneering work by playing a major role in shaping the EN 13160 standard for leak monitoring. It is now established worldwide, thus setting sustainable standards. The special feature of the SGB approach: Both walls of underground tanks or pipelines are permanently monitored via the system. An alarm is triggered even before a pollutant can escape. With his team of 45, Jost Berg, son of the company’s founder and managing director since 1990, focuses on market-oriented innovation and continuous high SGB celebrates its 60th Anniversary
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Full-vacuum leak monitoring was followed by the first pressure and vacuum leak detectors for double-walled tanks and pipelines as well as single-walled tanks with a leak protection lining. Initially mechanically operated, these were further developed until the first fully electrically operated leak detectors came onto the market in 2002. With further development of the technology, the areas of application and possible uses could also be expanded more and more: For example, the first leak detector for leak monitoring of double bottoms of flat-bottom tanks was developed as early as 1976 and in 1997 the VL-H9 became SGB’s first explosion-proof leak detector.
Press Releases growth in turnover in the US, with increases of over 43% in turnover, followed by Brazil, which recorded a 33% growth in sales last year. In terms of European markets, its subsidiaries in Italy, Sweden and Austria grew by more than 20%.
1997First explosion-protected vacuum leak detector VL-H9
1967First leak detectors for tanks with a leak protection lining: VL N1, VSH 1976First leak detector for double-walled pipes: VL-Hfw2 First pressure leak detectors for tanks First leak detectors for flat bottom tanks
SGB
1999SGB is DIN EN ISO 9001 certified by LRQA Invention of ELC Economic Leak Control – pressure leak detectors for several underground tanks (for BP) First leak detectors for double-walled hoses
2015SGB International, SGB’s company for global trading outside Europe is founded 2017 VLXE-SAB T/P (SAB is for Stand-Alone-Box, i.e., outdoor installation) is especially developed for monitoring several tanks and pipes at petrol stations
1990Jost Berg, son of the company’s founder, takes over the Themanagement200,000th leak detector is produced
69APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Releases quality. This is reflected in the unique product range of leak detectors as well as in customer-friendly offers such as the B2B online store at shop.sgb.de, the wide range of technical training courses and services such as planning and implementation of special solutions.
1962Invenmilestones:tion of full-vacuum metric leakage monitoring and founding of SGB by Dr. Fritz Berg
2010LDU: the first solution on a pressure basis for monitoring both tanks and pipes with one device at petrol stations
Launch of LD VIP, leak monitoring especially made for LNG
Press
2018Improvedpipes weather-proof housing made of stainless-steel, IP 2020Launch66 of B2B web shop at shop.sgb.de First electronic leak detector for Ex areas VLXE .. Ex MMV 2022Staff of 45, turnover of > 7 m euros
2002First electronically operating leak detector: with new plastic housing, integrated leak calculation, digital pressure display, and “real” three-way valves in pressure and measuring line 2009 VIMS monitors double-walled underground tanks and pipes with a conveying pressure of up to 6 bar – especially made for mineral oil products
A collaboration by Implico and SAP
The research shows that 62% of sector respondents predict it will become increasingly difficult to hire staff with the right skills, with just 15% of employees optimistic that finding the right staff will become easier in future.
• Bi-directional communication between scheduler and driver
• Easy accessibility of load results, unload results, and trip event information Included in SAP’s industry cloud portfolio
Integrated with SAP S/4HANA®, the new solution links truck drivers with dispatching and transport planning systems – with transparency and visibility. Hamburg, Germany – Implico Group announced that its Connected Truck solution is now available on SAP® Store and is part of SAP’s industry cloud portfolio for the oil, gas, and energy industry. The solution leverages the integration capabilities of SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) to integrate with SAP S/4HANA® using SAP Integration Suite.
To enable companies to become intelligent enterprises, SAP is expanding its vertical solutions with an ecosystem of industry cloud solutions. The solutions leverage SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), with advanced technologies, and are interoperable with SAP’s intelligent suite. Implico Group is collaborating with SAP to create offerings that meet specific secondary distribution industry requirements to provide customers with tools to help achieve positive business outcomes. Learn more at SAP “ComplementingStore. our portfolio, Connected Truck by Implico Group enables all-new forms of collaboration for secondary distribution,” says Jean-Marc Delbos, Director in the Oil, Gas, and Energy Industry Business Unit at SAP. “The solution is a prime example of how the collaboration between our organizations can deliver value for customers. We look forward to continued collaboration with Implico to create innovative cloud solutions and applications for energy leaders who want to drive cost-effective and sustainable growth in their industry.” Implico Group is a partner in the SAP PartnerEdge® program. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits, and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs – quickly and costeffectively.
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The United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) in partnership with Cogent Skills has published a review into the future skills needs of the fuels sector as it moves towards Net Zero by The2050.review identifies four themes the sector needs to embrace to attract and retain the skills it requires:
•Understand, anticipate and respond to the current and potential skills
Connected Truck from Implico Group now available on SAP® Store as part of SAP’s industry cloud portfolio
Elizabeth de Jong, Chief Executive of UKPIA said: “The focus of the sector remains ensuring that the UK’s fuel supply network continues to operate while we build a stronger, sustainable industry capable of building lasting growth and prosperity. This will only happen if employers have access to the skills they need as the sector evolves.
• Elimination of information gaps
In addition, just 8% of employers felt it would become ‘somewhat easy’ to retain staff in the future, with 54% thinking it will be UKPIA publishes review of future skills needs as fuels sector looks towards Net Zero
This review provides a timely opportunity to drive change and improve the outlook of both the existing and future workforce and I look forward to working with government, Cogent and our members to deliver on the areas this report identifies are in need of Theaction.”report
•Address the perceptions of the industry for example by clarifying its essential role in nation’s energy transition
• Real-time process visibility
provides the evidence that employers need to further develop their skills strategies. It focuses on skills that are essential to current and future industry roles, predominantly in refining manufacturing and production.
•Develop and expand the role of apprentices including to upskill existing employees
“In recent times, supply chains have become more compartmentalized than ever,” states Volker Braun, Managing Director and CTO of Implico Group. “Consequently, product moves through many hands before it reaches its destination. To streamline their operations and make smart decisions, liquid bulk traders need maximum transparency, collaboration, and information flow within their partner networks. Connected Truck provides exactly that –comprehensive, accessible, and in real time.”
The Connected Truck solution establishes a direct link between truck driver and back office. This is a game-changer for trip planning and reconciliation for bulk deliveries. It gives all parties involved a comprehensive overview of the operation. Also, it facilitates a quick, aim-oriented, and purposeful exchange. The solution’s benefits for daily business include:
• Full transparency of the delivery status
• Advanced fleet tracking and monitoring
• Smart trip execution with mobile support
•Promotegaps the benefits of industrial clustering for skills development and attractive career pathways
The British Retail Consortium’s 2021 annual payments survey, published last September, shows that, for the first time, more than 80% of all UK retail sales last year were made by a payment card, with more than half of these by debit card.
With the 2021 Forecourt Report finding that 7,395 of the 8,384 fuel forecourt sites in the UK have a ‘shop’, forecourt retailers need to meet customer demand for quicker and simpler payment methods as non-fuel retail continues to grow. With over 15 years’ experience in payments processing, Suresite offers a full suite of payment services, from payment processing to terminals. This perfectly complements TSG’s forecourt retail services, which include equipment installation – from point-of-sale to car washes - as well as on-site servicing and back-end software.
The new PCI approved point-to-point encryption (P2PE) terminal will offer a safer choice for fuel forecourts, offering both bank and fuel cards payment processing, and ensuring cardholder data is captured and encrypted before it enters the computer network. Not only will this reassure customers that their sensitive data is
Suresite Group partners with TSG UK to launch P2PE enabled payment terminals for forecourts ‘somewhat difficult’ and 8% ‘very difficult.’ UKPIA has worked with Cogent Skills, the UK strategic body for skills in the science industries, to assess the current themes for workforce recruitment and retention and consider future needs of the sector as it moves towards Net Zero. Justine Fosh, CEO of Cogent Skills, said: “The ability of the downstream sector to attract, retain and develop the talent it needs is not only a fundamental requirement for the stable operation of the nation’s fuel supply network - it’s a prerequisite for delivering our Net-Zero ambitions. “This report highlights the need for collaborative skills action across the fuels sector, from expanding the use of apprenticeships at all levels to promoting the various attractive and rewarding career pathways available. I look forward to working with colleagues to develop the skills solutions that support continued industry investment and job growth.”
71APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Press Releases
London, UK, April 05, 2022: Forecourt retail specialist Suresite Group has partnered with leading equipment and service supplier to the energy sector, TSG UK, to enhance its payments offering. This partnership will enable Suresite to offer a one-stop shop for hardware, software, installation and customer support, providing a range of simple, affordable and secure payment solutions to its forecourt retail customers.
•Simplified
Nick Horne, sales and commercial director at Suresite says: “We are excited to be partnering with TSG UK to bring a new P2PE enabled device to the market. We have always prided ourselves on first-class customer service and this is another step forward as we continually improve our products and service for customers. This partnership will see us positioned as offering a one-stop payment solution by providing hardware as well as our traditional card acquiring solutions. “We are pleased to be able to bring this exciting new product to the market and can’t wait to introduce it to our customers and prospects in the coming weeks and months”. and benefits of new P2PE enabled terminal and secure payments P2PE approved card machine PCI DSS compliance contract management
vast experience in payment processing, backed up by unparalleled customer service, ensures total satisfaction for operators across the UK. We are delighted to partner with Suresite to provide this highly secure payment solution to our extensive customer
•Accepts all major payment types including fuel cards
•Easy
technology, all of Suresite’s payment terminals are continually monitored to proactively check functionality, highlighting potential issues and triggering online resolution –sometimes before an issue has even been noticed at the site.
By having one point of contact, Suresite’s customers benefit from a hassle-free experience that is also more cost-effective, thanks to better purchasing power - with no need to use sub-contractors and affordable payment plans.
•PCI
•24/7 customer service
Brancheshttps://www.tsg-solutions.com/uk/https://www.suresite.co.ukbase.”
The Eastern Branch events committee arranged for its members to see the manufacturing facility and to learn about these important tanks, often spoken about and stood upon, but hardly ever seen. Cookson and Zinn led by Geoff Lee and his team have over the years gained an enviable record for producing quality technical tanks. We also met Geoff successor Frank Buckley who joined to show us around his factory. This was the first ‘live’ branch meeting held for some years due to the pandemic.
CZ were founded in 1961 and have shown their technical expertise over the years both in the domestic market as well as internationally by contributing to standards and being a founding member of the CEN committee on UST’s. They have the capacity to handle very large tanks both above ground as well as below up to 250K ltrs. They also produce a wide range of specialised tank for the offshore sector and more. They have carbon and stainless capability. Over the years they have also invested in state of the art 3Dmodelling systems with plasma cutting technology and automated systems in place. We certainly came away with a far better appreciation and understanding of how important these quality tanks are on petrol filling stations also from a manufacturing perspective as well as safety and environmental. If other APEA branch members elsewhere in the country and would like to see this facility and learn more about tanks, please contact CZ who would be glad to show and talk to you. The next Eastern Branch meeting will in December.
Steve Watts, sales director at TSG UK commented: “The alliance between TSG UK and Suresite will further enhance TSG’s already strong offering in secure payment solutions for retail “Suresite’sforecourts.
The APEA Eastern branch met for their Spring Summer meeting at Cookson and Zinn, kindly hosted by Geoff Lee, under the strap line of ‘What lies beneath’.
Members will be advised of date, venue, and topic. If there is anything you would like to hear about at meetings please contact me directly anton.martiniussen@elaflex.co.uk or give me a call.
Eastern
Backed by TSG’s experienced servicing team on the ground, and the fact that Suresite answers 97% of customer service calls in 15 seconds from their UK call centre, customers have peace of mind that their crucial payment facilities will remain operational.
•Quick
72 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk
Press Releases safe and secure, but for forecourt retailers it will also significantly reduce the paperwork and potential costs associated with PCI Usingcompliance.leading
Features
Fifteen members attended and special thanks was given to Mel Fitzsimmons for organising the meeting and arranging for the meeting to be recorded and available to all members.
Doreen became chair in November of last year at the Conference and AGM which was held in Milton Keynes. APEA has a new website where all Council meeting minutes can be accessed. The next edition of the Blue Book is underway and there should be more information on Electric Vehicle charging systems.
The Chairman, Andy King, reported that the previous year had been very quiet due to Covid restrictions but the Training Committee had provided a three-day Petroleum Officers Course which the Branch had subsidised. The course was well attended and well received.
The Treasurer, Peter Farmer, reported that the branch had £1,444 in our bank account and that last year’s accounts only had two items. The branch had contributed £1,000 towards the petroleum officers training course and £100 to the appeal for Ukraine.
Andy King continues in his role as Chair and Secretary Peter Farmer continues in his role as Treasurer Ian Hillier continues in his role as National Rep Lee Roberts will continue as his role as committee member Chintan Shah will continue as his role as committee member.
Gareth Bourhill gave a presentation on EV charging at Petrol Filling Stations which was very well received and produced many questions at the end of the presentation.
Ian Hillier offered to send all local government employees who attended the AGM a CPD certificate for 2 hours.
The Scottish Branch held its AGM by Zoom on 1st April 2022.
The following Office bearers were elected.
Ian BranchHillierRepresentative Scottish
73APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Branches
The Branch Representative, Ian Hillier, reported that he had attended the virtual Council meetings which had been held last year and gave some background on the new Chair, Doreen Pooley.
Tendering trends are starting to suggest that a seller’s market may be emerging for the first time in a number of years, with suppliers and subcontractors generally being more selective, provoking some consideration of the appropriate strategies for procuring and contracting.
Twenty members enjoyed a fantastic day of informative presentations at the stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Even the weather was kind with 28 degrees and sunny blue skies for those who visited the park after Thelunch.first
Do the suppliers want to work with you and how important are you to them in turn? In the current climate are your demands realistic? When the chips are down, which of their customers will they prioritise?
Phil Reese - Evenlode Roadside Alex Lin – Eurotank Paul Muncey – Adler and Allen
issues •One-off events •Impact•Inflationof
presentation was from Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Philip Reese (Evenlode Roadside).
If•Currency•Sanctionsvolatilitytherecentyearshavetaught
Companies ought to understand the relationship with their supply chain and especially who is most important to them or more critical for supply.
Understanding the financial viability of suppliers in potentially challenging times needs to be considered. This could include: precontract and ongoing due diligence, the selection of contractual provisions and what steps to take in case of impending supplier failure.
What can be done? After setting out the context and challenges of the current UK market and factors which might be out of our control, Phil moved on to provide members with a menu of possible topics that can be within our control, for awareness and action (including a number well within your grasp) to make projects and supply chains more resilient.
Phil identified a number of useful resources to raise understanding of these important topics.
•Exports issues •Commodity•Covid shortages
He advises that clients could spend time learning who is in their supply chain and understanding what potential risks to supply may be present or bubbling up (at all levels and not just the level 1 supplier). For example; find out where they are based and from where they are sourcing their supplies (as well as resilience to market shocks, this visibility could also be useful for understanding any future Net Zero requirements). Another growing threat is cyber security via the supply chain; what is their security like and what toolkits are available to safeguard?
listed •Global•Brexitbelow: interconnectivity
Yorkshire and Humberside
Speakers (left to right)
Global and local demand means that availability of many materials and resources are constrained, labour markets are tight and recruitment processes can be lengthy. As well as availability, costs are challenging, with worker earnings rising in construction, and global material costs continue to increase significantly. Material availability for construction is, however, generally stable for now, and HGV driver shortages are showing signs of some improvement.
Whilst 2022 workload is generally reported to be secure at present, with high demand evident (at least in the first half of the year), inflation is now at levels not seen since the early 1990s (and potentially the 1970s), and with the economy still emerging from pandemic safeguards, there are a number of challenges facing projects and supply chains, including a heightened risk of insolvency in certain sub-sectors, to look out for.
Project and Supply Chain Resilience in 2022 Phil started off by taking the members through the breakdown of a typical supply chain in the context of the recent and current challenges and issues being faced globally, given the now constant impact of events. Some are of supply chains & logistical war on trading us anything it is that more challenges are unlikely to be far away. Construction Market Phil then went on to use the UK construction market as an example to summarise industry forecasts and advise that the current economic climate is a particular issue at the moment.
74 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Branches Yorkshire and Humberside Branch meeting 21st June 2022.
(EvenlodeOrinfo@evenloderoadise.comvisitwww.evenloderoadside.comRoadsideisatradingname
Further information is available from Adler and Allan. Contact Paul Muncey on email paul.muncey@adlerandallan.co.uk or mobile 07706 325034 or visit the website Electric vehicle infrastructure - Adler And Allan
•80% charged at home
•Look at longer term supply needs and build stronger relationships where appropriate
Contract compliance is another discipline that can be readily implemented when supply chain challenges exist. Stages can include; carefully planned pre-start meetings, good record keeping (with photos), accurate programme updates and labour records, carefully constructed meeting minutes, records of design decisions and approvals. Phil provided a number of examples where these can all be beneficial and signposted to a number of resources.
Forresources.moreinformation
of Reese Procurement presentation was given by Paul Muncey from Adler and Allen. EV Charging (What is happening now and predicting the future) Paul informed the members that the 2020s will see a radical transformation in energy use for road vehicles. This has already started and is increasing exponentially. This is globally led, not just in the UK or mainland Europe, and is also government led globally by legislation, as the world looks to move to “net-zero” and reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Industry figures expect the following EV Charging, split as numbers of electric vehicles (EV) increase.
Given the high numbers wanting to charge at home on a cheap electricity tariff (typically between 12 Midnight and 6am), there are many challenges including circa 45% of the UK population do not have off street parking, to enable charging at home. Until this circa 45% of people can charge at home or their work (workplace charging - which will be down to employers around the UK making that available to employees), they will need to find some source of off-street charging (workplace, public, or transient at forecourts for example). Is this a great opportunity for our industry to supply this demand from forecourts, as we know the sector well? There will be competition for public and transient EV Charging, as Paul mentioned that a company he has been working with last year (RAW) have just won a contract for putting EV Chargers into Greene King’s estate (1,154 Pubs/car parks across the UK). Opportunities are almost literally endless!
Paul said companies need to produce plans for future proofing installations and look at future requirements. This means companies need to spend time looking at finding the right partner to manage their EV Charging solutions (either turnkey or agnostic). They need somebody to guide them through future predictions and modelling with the right equipment choices (both Hardware and Software) as well as installation challenges and meeting regulatory requirements (especially important when on petrol Paulforecourts).advised that there is on average 6 months lead time on EV Charging equipment at the moment, due to huge demand and referring to Phil Reece’s presentation on procurement (Pandemic, Ukraine, Brexit etc…), as well as potential long delays in getting any upgrades to incoming electrical supply from DNO’s (electricity companies), again due to all the above. So, anybody looking at EV Charging installations on their premises, needs to start planning with somebody like Adler and Allan well ahead of actual installation and commissioning dates/plans, as in “You need to do it Now!”
The final presentation was given by Alex Lis, Eurotank Environmental Operations Director.
Finally Phil advises that the key to any project being successful, and especially when times are more challenging, is working together with the supply chain and gives the tips below.
TheLimited).second
•Encourage suppliers to be open about impending shortages or any other issues arising
•15% in towns/urban/industrialised/office locations
•Coherent planning & communications, which is in tune with today’s supply markets
76 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Branches
ATEX Camera inspections Alex discussed the many situations where Eurotank has been using ATEX approved cameras to inspect inside tanks and pipelines. Eurotank were early adopters of this technology so have vast experience in the benefits and drawbacks. Remote cameras have allowed easier access to areas either difficult, dangerous or impossible to access by people. Remote cameras allow easier access for inspections inside tanks saving time and cost as well as
•Co-operate and collaborate across the industry, possibly sharing or advice, Philip Reese can be contacted at
Man Vs Machine Alex’s presentation looked at various tasks required in fuel storage and distribution situations and the pros and cons found by Eurotank when using automation in various tasks.
•Know your supplier and client relationships and build upon them
•5% out of town/main road and motorway locations
Paul also gave the members a run down on some of the technical descriptions of EV Charging and showed different types of equipment available; AC Charging for home and workplace and DC Charging for Public and transient charging, typically forecourts – e.g. MFG, where Adler and Allan are installing Rapid 150kW/H DC Chargers for MFG over the next 8 years across their whole estate, with a £410 Million investment by MFG on EV Charging, along with other major PFS Groups such as Euro Garages, and many more of the Top 50 Indies Groups, as well as smaller groups and singleton sites in the sector.
Future innovations - Eurotank is constantly on the lookout and trialing new technologies that can be used to remotely examine inside tanks. This will hopefully overcome the limitations of the camera on a fixed cable that is currently available. Robotic EurotankCleaninghasalso invested heavily in robotic tank cleaning. Alex showed the members pictures of some of their tank cleaning robots in operation. These robots are compact enough to be lowered through the chamber after the tank lid is removed. With the aid of CCTV the robot is remotely operated and uses high pressure water jets to clean the tank interior. This method removes the need to put any people inside the tank and meets the requirements of many major oil companies whose policy is no manned tank entry. There are some restrictions on this method of cleaning though. In some cases nothing beats a man or woman with a shovel and bucket where there are large levels of sludge in the Tanktank...lining innovations
77APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Branches
Alex then demonstrated their bladder system of tank relining. This is the only system that allows a full secondary containment relining of a tank without the need for manned entry inside the tank.
The use of this system speeds up the downtime for the site as it is much quicker than entry into the tank to paint on a traditional fibreglass lining. But more importantly for many Eurotank customers it removes the need for manned tank entry as this breaks their company policy on health and safety.
The tank has a full 3D laser scan survey to get a perfect image of the inside of the tank. This is then used to manufacture a perfect fit bladder liner for that tank. Eurotank then install this bladder through the tank entry once the lid is removed. A vacuum is then applied in the tank to pull the bladder against the tank inner wall after it is sealed in the neck of the tank. This vacuum is also permanently maintained to monitor the tank for leaks once in use.
CommitteeAndyorjack.aplin@eurotank.co.ukgotowww.eurotank.co.ukKennedyMember
reducing risks to operatives. Early identification is possible when looking for things like bacterial sludge in tanks, failed linings, corrosion areas etc. However some tasks still benefit from the human close inspection. Where the inner skin of a tank has to be scrupulously cleaned with a close inspection required to look for small areas of damage such as corrosion pitting nothing beats a close inspection by the human eye. This will require a full tank entry by removal of the tank lid and close monitoring before entry is possible. Both time consuming and labour intensive with associated costs.
For further information on any of the above topics please contact Jack Aplin Group Sales Director Eurotank
Online Training courses go to https://apea.org.uk/pages/training or https://apea.mykademy.com/
Michael O Connell Branch Representative Irish
Dangerous Substances Regulations Amendments 2022: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are currently reviewing the recent Fuel Store (Retail and Commercial) Regulations 2019. There was some discussion on this topic with minor changes to the wording of some elements of the Regulations suggested. It was agreed the committee’s suggestions would be sent to the Department for consideration during the review
78 APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Branches/Training Training Training course dates 2022/2023 Please contact the APEA office for a quotation for a bespoke course we can run at your offices, for any of the courses listed below, at admin@apea.org.uk, with an approximate number of delegates and preferred dates. 3 Day Combined Petrol Filling Stations –Construction, Audit and Inspection Course 5 - 7 September 2022Stansted Airport (fully booked) 24 - 26 October 2022Stansted Airport 27 - 29 March 2023Manchester Airport 12 - 14 June 2023Solihull 4 - 6 September 2023Stansted Airport 2 day Electrical Installations - An Awareness 6 - 7 September 2022Swindon 2023 dates to be confirmed Explosives and Fireworks 8 October 2022Stansted Airport 5 October 2023Stansted Airport Wetstock Management 12 September 2022Stansted Airport 17 April 2023 Manchester Airport 11 September 2023Stansted Airport DSEAR 13 September 2022 Stansted Airport 19 April 2023 Manchester Airport 12 September 2023Stansted Airport Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 8 September 2022Stansted Airport 24 March 2023 Manchester Airport 7 September 2023Stansted Airport Petrol Filling Station courses on request Vapour Recovery Installations Leak SafeEnforcementInvestigationProceduresInstallationandUse of LPG The Branch held a committee meeting on the 24th March 2022 in Gormanstown Co. Meath. The meeting was well attended and included members from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The main topics of discussion were as follows: Vapour Recovery: In February 2022 there were Guidance Documents for Local Authorities for Stage 1b and Stage 2 Vapour Recovery issued by Network for Ireland’s Environmental Compliance & Enforcement. The documents were well received by the committee as they were considered to be comprehensive, informative and well presented. There was some discussion on the inconsistent approach taken by the different local authorities in Ireland to vapour emissions; and that these guidance documents should help improve this approach.
Theprocess.application of the Regulations referred to above was also discussed. It was noted by some members that there was an increased level of application of these Regulations by the different local authorities, and that Revenue Officers issuing the Auto Fuel Traders Licenses were seeking evidence of the (Local Authority) Fuel Store (Retail/Commercial) Licenses from the various fuel Westores.are planning to hold our Branch AGM in October, though a date has not yet been confirmed.
79APEA tel: 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk Training Course Fees APEA Member Non member 3 day course with accommodation£1020.00 £1120.00 3 day, day delegate rate £810.00 £910.00 2 day course with accommodation£650.00 £750.00 2 day, day delegate rate £550.00 £650.00 1 day course £260.00 £310.00 Prices excluding VAT. 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 for one year. Courses will be designed around the (4th edition) Blue Book Guidance for the Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations (May 2018). A hard copy and a pdf version of the 4th Edition is available from the Publications page of the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk The hardcopy is £75.00 to APEA Members and £150.00 to non APEA members. There is no VAT charged on the hardcopy or pdf formats. The pdf version can be purchased with a licence for individual use and cannot be shared or printed. 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 Thomasor Daly (Training Committee Chairman) Tel: +353 876899281 email: thomasdaly@apea.org.ukDelegates from the 3 day Combined Audit and Inspection course at Solihull
