Fuel Oil News January 2019 | Page 3

Certainty and direction As another New Year dawns, whilst OPEC may still be feeling positive about the outcome of its strategy to mitigate a 1.3 million barrel per day oversupply, other organisations and businesses in the UK & Ireland are feeling unsettled by recent issues around Brexit. In late November the Freight Transport Association urged all MPs to vote in favour of ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement as did INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe who said: “A Brexit deal that moves us closer to an open European market has my full support.” With warnings of dire consequences ringing in our ears, a mood of uncertainty over the direction in which to take anything is to be expected. Uncertainty about future trading relationships, saw Nigel Base, SMMT commercial vehicle manager reporting recently that ‘a third of automotive businesses have postponed or cancelled UK investment decisions,’ with many fearing that a no deal Brexit would threaten their future viability. Meanwhile in the fuel oil distribution business, it was reassuring to know that a fuel distributor, recently listed among the 1000 companies to inspire Britain, had made an acquisition, and that another fuel distributor was actively making strategic investments in the UK – see page 4. There is an advantage when delivering a commodity that is of vital importance to people, organisations and businesses; and that is the need to carry on regardless of issues in government or elsewhere. Holding the 17th position with 36 tankers in last year’s top 20 UK mainland fuel oil distributors, one expects Oil NRG to move up the list following its recent acquisition of Conquest NRG. And on that note, Fuel Oil News would like to wish all readers an onwards and upwards trajectory in 2019! As part of a three-year cycle of investment in the UK, Watson Fuels has opened a new customer contact centre in Norwich – see page 4. Contact us 01565 653283 www.fueloilnews.co.uk News desk / Editor Jane Raphael [email protected] New office; new business; working in partnership; charitable acts; attitudes to alternative fuels and debating the future of UK energy 8 2018 PRICES AND MARGINS 11 PORTLAND MARKET REPORT The First World War and a major energy transition 12-13 IN CONVERSATION K9 Fuels 15 INSIDE OUT Is the world serious about meeting its climate targets? 17 IRISH NEWS Delivering solutions for Ireland and mapping out the future 19-21 INNOVATIONS The innovators - managing people; automatic compartment follow-on; business protection; cloud-based logistics digitisation and optimisation sofware; remote monitoring and fall arresters 22 PRICING PAGE Irish News Aine Faherty [email protected] Subscriptions Berni Chetham [email protected] Accounts & copy chasing Berni Chetham [email protected] Annual subscription for the UK & Republic of Ireland is priced at £98 or €113 inc. p&p. Overseas: £115 or €134. Back issues: £8 per copy. Commercial manager Margaret Major [email protected] Published by Ashley & Dumville Publishing, Caledonian House, Tatton Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG Credit card payments 01565 653283 THE 2018 DIRECTORY 2018 D I REC TO RY M A B AV I S I O N $FFHVV\RXUWUDGLQJDFFRXQW RQOLQHIRUTXLFNDQGWUDQVSDUHQW GHDODGPLQLVWUDWLRQ 01565 653283 www.fueloilnews.co.uk/category/directory /di Volume 42 No 1 ISSN 1757-1057 4-5,7,9 NEWS Founded in 1977 by James Smith Managing director Nick Smith Replacing equipment in 2019? Check out the Fuel Oil News Directory The independent voice for the fuel distribution, storage and marketing industry in the UK and Ireland. T 2019 THE T TERMINALS A AND STORAGE S MAP – FREE M WITH YOUR W J JANUARY ISSUE www.oilterminalmap.co.uk Fuel Oil News | January 2019 3