In Conversation
Securing the future
A recent Q&A interview with Jean-Marc
Durand, general manager at Total Lindsey
Oil Refinery (TLOR) and team members, has
illustrated the significant progress made since
the refinery’s adaptation plan was triggered
in 2015.
Is the adaptation plan still viable?
In short yes, we have successfully adapted our
business to meet the demands of the market.
We have to be robust to be sustainable in
this environment. We have good availability
of our units which enables us to optimise
results. We have proven in the last year that
the new scheme is working. The adaptation
of the refinery scheme was a tool to enable
us to deliver to the market. Traditionally
in our industry ‘big is beautiful’ however
we’ve turned this on its head so that ‘FIT for
purpose’ is beautiful.
Post reconversion, what has been the
refinery’s greatest achievement?
Our greatest achievement is the engagement
and involvement of our teams. We have
successfully met the challenge set to us;
changing our organisation and the refinery
scheme for the better. Our very successful
turnaround in 2016 enabled us to deliver in
2017; we have a highly motivated team who
are committed to delivering excellence.
Have there been any further staff
reductions?
No. We managed the change through
retirements and voluntary redundancies, with
several personnel being retrained and given
new opportunities.
We now have a very committed team
of 400 staff all pulling in the same direction
to ensure the best refinery possible. Our new
organisation brings us greater efficiencies.
Our gain has been the engagement and
involvement of a workforce which is working
hard on safety and product availability.
Are there greater expectations with
respect to producing a higher converting
and profitable refinery?
Playing to our new strengths, the objective is
to be a more profitable refinery that’s in line
with market demand.
Running with the new scheme, we’re
seeing further opportunities and new potential
improvements that we can implement, we’re
going further than what was originally planned
The Total Lindsey Oil Refinery (TLOR) has a highly motivated team committed to delivering excellence.
TLOR is now supplying more product by rail and is storing product at the Prax terminal in Jarrow
which is definitely very good news.
We’re now busy preparing for other
projects relating to the 2019 turnaround with
all going according to plan.
Is TLOR meeting the demands of the
inland market?
TLOR is now supplying more product by rail
and storing at the Prax terminal in Jarrow.
Upgrades on the propane road loading
have provided big efficiency improvements.
The planned automation at the Killingholme
road loading is on-going; improved loading
times will come to fruition later this year.
“We had our ups and downs in 2017 but
overall it was a good year with a significant
increase in business,” said commercial
operations manager Andrew Quenet.
“For two years product availability
has been good albeit with some issues in
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Fuel Oil News | April 2018 21