Irish News
Delivering solutions for Ireland
WORKING TIRELESSLY TO TACKLE THE MANY ISSUES WHICH THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY FACES, NICK HAYES,
IRELAND REPRESENTATIVE AT THE FEDERATION OF PETROLEUM SUPPLIERS (FPS), SPOKE WITH IRISH CORRESPONDENT
AINE FAHERTY ABOUT ONGOING WORK
The FPS is presently working
closely with the European
Confederation of Fuel Distributors,
boiler manufacturers and other
trade associations to explore
alternative liquid fuel solutions
for off-grid heating, including
potential biofuel blends.
“We’re not trying to protect
the heating oil industry at all
costs,” said Nick.
“We support the Irish and UK
government’s work to meet the
2050 carbon reduction target,
but we feel strongly that oil can
be part of the solution. Our
members believe that a biofuel or
a carbon neutral e-fuel can have
a major role in meeting the future
needs of off grid homes; focusing
on electricity’s high cost/low
efficiency solutions is a mistake.”
As Nick points out some
FPS members, particularly family
businesses, have been in existence
for over 50 or 60 years. Starting
with deliveries of coal or milk,
they expanded into oil products,
and now through operational
optimisation of logistics and
innovation in back office systems
they have reduced costs which has
benefitted consumers.
“When it comes to entering
new markets and taking
advantage of new possibilities,
FPS members have proven track
records. All that’s needed is for
government to provide pathways
that encourage innovation and
investment.”
Carbon emissions and a
potential carbon tax rise
FPS expressed concern over the
potential consequences of a
carbon tax rise and to this end
has been working with Paschal
Donohoe, finance minister in the
Republic of Ireland, to establish
a way to reduce the country’s
carbon footprint.
“We were pleased that
minister Donohoe took the
decision not to increase the
carbon tax in the budget,” said
Nick.
“This decision has reduced
financial pressure on the
estimated 400,000 households in
Ireland who are in fuel poverty.”
“We believe government
should look at a tiered approach
to achieving the 2050 carbon
reduction target. In order
to enable all aspects of
technological innovation and
provide competitive choices for
consumers, including liquid fuels,
milestones and targets and the
technology used should not be
defined by government.
“A date for the phasing out
of 100% fossil-based fuel should
be set which gives the industry
time to introduce their new fuel
innovation together with a new
fuel specification.”
Reducing carbon emissions
in heating is a major concern not
only in Ireland but in Europe and
beyond. The need for a liquid fuel
and investment in efuels will be of
paramount importance.
Customs representatives in both
the Republic and Northern Ireland.
The FPS has also established an
incident reporting scheme which
allows members to anonymously
report possible breaches of
legislation to the Revenue.
Winter deliveries
temporary relaxation of drivers’
hours earlier this year when the
beast from the east struck, FPS is
again working with government to
ensure that deliveries can be made
during periods of high demand
and bad weather, particularly as
forecasters say we’re in for a bad
winter…..
Having secured an 11-day
Mapping out the
future
Enclosed with this issue is a free copy of the 2019 Fuel Oil News
storage & terminals wall map – now in its 11th edition.
Fuel Oil News would like to thank Acumen, Eleven Recruitment,
Essar Oil UK, Greenergy, Harvest Energy/Prax Petroleum, Mabanaft,
Navigator, Phillips 66, Power (a Local Fuel brand), Puma Energy and
Woodfield for their continuing support for this very popular Fuel Oil
News product.
Over the course of 2019, Fuel Oil News looks forward to
updating readers on the latest news from terminals and refineries
across the UK and Ireland.
Combating the smuggling risk
Brexit remains a major topic
with many Irish distributors
worried that Brexit will make the
smuggling of heating oil far worse.
“Whilst not a new
phenomenon, we want to make
sure smuggling doesn’t get any
worse,” said Nick.
“We continue to highlight
this issue to authorities on both
sides of the Irish border and
have written to Border Midlands
West Region, Special Compliance
District, Dundalk last year and
again in September 2018.
“To help develop ways to
control and curb smuggling,
we have met with Revenue and
Fuel Oil News | January 2019 17