Wholesale / Refining
Total Lindsey Oil Refinery – supplying a responsible energy mix
The last year has shown Total Lindsey Oil Refinery continuing to successfully deliver to the market following its adaptation.
Looking to the future we can see new opportunities to explore to optimise the refinery.
In 2019 our turnaround and inspection will allow us to make modifications to the units to produce cleaner lighter products. We continue to invest
and renovate to adapt to the market’s growing needs. We have a clear ambition in each of our core pillars of Safety, Availability, People, Valorisation
and Cost which provides vision and direction for the whole business.
We are also embracing and adapting to changes in legislation such as the RTFO. Flexibility is the key to meeting this, however the latest RTFO
increase leaves much less room for manoeuvre. Until recently Total has not blended any FAME into gasoil but we are evolving our approach to
continue to meet the obligations. Total has always taken a prudent approach to FAME quality so we are confident there will be no impact for the end
customer as long as the product is stored correctly.
Total’s commitment today, and in the future, is to be the responsible energy major. Providing people with the energy they need by producing,
processing and distributing energy at an affordable cost, while meeting the highest standards of safety and environmental stewardship; supplying
a responsible energy mix of steadily decreasing carbon intensity, meeting the requirements of the 2° C scenario; providing customers with solutions
that enable them to use energy responsibly and being recognised for the quality of its close-to-the-customer service.
There are several challenges with RTFO, one of
which is the government’s apparent preference for
mandating 95 E5 as the protection grade, for the
relatively small number of vehicles incompatible
with higher ethanol petrol. This is likely to have a
big impact on sites that will no longer be able to
supply super unleaded, and on suppliers whose
terminals cannot store three grades of gasoline.
Furthermore, it may well have a negative effect on
E10 penetration, leaving smaller retailers with the
unenviable task of trying to pick which grade, E5 or
E10, is likely to sell more in their area.
There’s currently a great deal of discussion
about the effect of the MARPOL marine fuel
sulphur specification change; it’s still not clear as
to what impact this is likely to have on the refining
industry, although it will clearly have some. It is
likely to be closer to the 2020 implementation
date before we have a clearer idea.
To date we have resisted using FAME in
gasoil as its addition will reduce the storage life
of gasoil and will necessitate an increased level of
quality testing being required, especially for those
consumers who use gasoil for static equipment
and Non-Road Mobile Machinery, such as
emergency generators. However, as the demands
of the current RTFO requirements increase we will
have to review this supply position.
Valero – reviewing the challenges
Fuel Oil News | October 2018 19