COMMERCIAL FEATURE
Change burns bright with evolving fuels In the first part of our Commercial Features section this issue, Andy Maher – Managing Director of Stafford Fuels – looks at the constantly shifting landscape of fuel providers. For solid fuel, the heating season just gone has been a significant improvement on the past three or four years. We had a more traditional winter that drove demand and lasted well into April. For the first time in many years, the trade recorded an increase in volumes, although margins were still squeezed as they have been for the last few years. Beneath the surface however, major change was and is underway In 2017 we already had the relatively low-key departure from the coal trade of Tedcastles, who also recently announced its departure from the oil distribution trade. In March 2018, we then had the decision by Bord na Móna to exit the coal side of the solid fuel trade. This was a very significant move for the leading player in the solid fuel market. This was shortly followed by the liquidation of Galtee Fuels Ltd. All this underlines the challenges facing the solid fuel trade and the scale of change taking place.
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Never Ending Change More change is on the way. In late 2017 – Minister Naughten announced a nationwide ban on bituminous coal to become law in September, 2018 with 12 months to sell existing stock – No bituminous coal can be legally sold or put on the market after 1st September, 2019. He has re-iterated that stance several times in recent months. There is hope for the future. The consuming public is more acutely aware than ever of environmental issues including air emissions. The half hourly monitoring instigated in recent years, by County Councils and EPA combined, does sharpen the public perception of air emissions being caused by solid fuel. The solid fuel trade must take the initiative and persuade their customer of the value and quality of smokeless fuel. Every effort should be made to communicate to customers that a) solid fuel can give the same or better heat value over a longer period of time and b) it is much better for the environment (75% less smoke and particulate matter emissions). The trade must make smokeless fuel the fuel of choice for a lower emissions future.
September/October 2018
