Fuel Oil News March 2019 | Page 4

In Conversation News Mabanaft – off to a flying start at OIKOS M abanaft’s exclusive new road loading facility at OIKOS Storage is on target to deliver over 100 million litres of aviation fuel Q1, which will double in the summer months. The rack went live at the end of October 2018 and is technically still in commissioning; nonetheless, the stats are extremely positive. The fully automated road loading rack will be operational 24/7 every day of the year, except Christmas Day. It has a maximum pump rate of 4,400 litres per minute per loading gantry (when using both loading arms) and can load a truck in under 20 minutes. By early February 2019, over 50 million litres of jet fuel had been loaded from the rack, equivalent to 1,325 trucks. The road loading facility is dedicated to aviation fuel and is the first independent project of its kind to take place on the Thames in the last 10 years. As such, it ensures Mabanaft sole access to a robust new UK supply of jet aviation fuel, ensuring long-term supply resilience for airlines. Looking ahead, in addition to its existing long-term supply contracts, Mabanaft will also be targeting a number of new airline contracts and airports, including commencing supply at Heathrow airport. Toby Simmons – Mabanaft’s aviation manager next to the new Mabanaft road loading rack at OIKOS Storage on Canvey Island Under delivering on that Eastern promise W ith some pretty heavy snowfall across the south and east of England and Scotland in late January, it looked possible that the beast from the east was about to pay a return visit…..only for the weather to a do a complete about face with temperatures up into double figures last month! With relatively mild weather forecast for March, could this be another year for late snow? Six years ago, the front cover of the May 2013 issue of Fuel Oil News saw a Rix tanker delivering in April’s snow…. Many thanks to Gleaner Oils and Marsh Fuels for these snowy images taken on the Isle of Mull and in Berkshire 4 Fuel Oil News | March 2019