DECEMBER 2011
Harvest Energy sponsors Energy Saving Trust's Fleet Hero 2011 Awards
The UK's leaders in 'greener' fleet management have been announced at a London ceremony attended by the Transport Minister Norman Baker.
The Awards, organised by the Energy Saving Trust and sponsored by Harvest Energy, highlight public and private organisations that are successfully reducing their carbon footprints - and lowering their fuel bills - through fleet travel and transport policies. They also celebrate companies that supply the most innovative cost and fuel-saving products or services to car and van fleets.
HMRC took the best large public sector fleet for the second year running, while West Oxfordshire District Council took the Award for smaller fleets in the same category. Addison Lee and Qdell & LHR Express Cars as the best private sector fleets (large and small fleet sections respectively).
Harvest Energy Chief Executive Officer Janet Ashdown presented the Leadership Award to the Yorkshire Ambulance NHS Trust, in recognition of it being the first ambulance service in the country to commence a Carbon Management Programme (see photo).
The Awards ceremony took place in the Nash Room at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall on 23rd November.
Transport Minister Norman Baker MP said: "If the Government is to meet its carbon reduction targets we must decarbonise road transport and making fleet operations greener is a major part of that. So I am delighted to see such excellent progress in this area - big companies from both the private and public sectors have made huge strides in tackling this issue, using a range of measures such as reducing mileage, encouraging fuel efficient driving and using ultra low carbon vehicles. Not only is all this good for the environment - it makes economic sense too."
Harvest Energy's Janet Ashdown said "We supply a wide range of fleet operators, large and small, private and public sector. All fleet operators are increasingly aware that cutting costs and reducing carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions go hand-in-hand, so we were delighted to support the Energy Saving Trust in their work to recognise and reward best practice in fleet management at all levels."
Nigel Underdown, the EST's Head of Transport said: "About half of all new vehicles purchased in the UK are used in fleet operations, so the sector plays a vital part in determining the environmental performance of road transport overall.
We were encouraged by both the quality and number of entries (which exceeded previous years). There are clearly a large number of fleet operators working on a wide variety of fronts to minimise the environmental impact of their operations."
SEPTEMBER 2011
Work progresses on Amsterdam sea terminal
Work on the new sea terminal 'Hydrocarbon Hotel' in the Port of Amsterdam is progressing well on schedule. The project is a joint venture between the Blue Ocean Group and Dutch company North Sea Group BV. The terminal will be used for the export and blending of petrol and diesel, as well as petrol components and biofuels. Harvest Energy will also utilise the terminal to support the supply of petrol and diesel to its own expanding independent retail forecourt network in the UK.
The office, the jetty, the manifold and the eleven tanks, with a total capacity of 140,000m3, have now all been completed. The objective is to start filling the first tank in early November and to subsequently test the vapour processing unit. The intention is for the terminal to be fully operational around mid-December.
The Hydrocarbon Hotel is the first company-owned terminal with a sea connection, with three berths enabling it to service large sea-going tankers. The Blue Ocean Group comprises the international cargo trading company Blue Ocean Associates Limited, and London based Harvest Energy Limited.
JULY 2011
Harvest Energy signs supply agreement with Cornwall Garage Group
Harvest Energy has announced a five year motor fuel supply and branding agreement with the 16 forecourt Cornwall Garage Group. The Cornwall Group's sites stretch from the West Country into Sussex, London and the Home Counties and into the Midlands.
Each of the sites is being rebranded with Harvest Energy's distinctive white, blue and green livery. The agreement means that Harvest Energy now supplies more than 60 independent forecourts across the length and breadth of Britain.
The Cornwall Garage Group began as one outlet in Hatch End, Middlesex. It was set-up in the early 1960's by John Murray, now in his 80s and still the main owner and MD.
John explains "I was originally a professional ice hockey player for the Wembley Lions. When I retired I looked for a business to get into and bought the garage and forecourt at Hatch End. I never looked back and at one point had 41 outlets before consolidating a few years back."
Describing the agreement with Harvest Energy, John said "I like their people and I particularly like their enthusiasm. They're going to do well and we'll do well working with them."
Simon Davis, Harvest Energy's Head of Sales and Logistics, commented "We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with the Cornwall Garage Group. It's a long-standing company with an excellent reputation and we are delighted their 16 sites will soon be displaying the Harvest Energy brand."
In all, Harvest Energy now supplies over 10% of Britain's road fuels from depots across the country, including from its own storage terminals at West Thurrock, Seal Sands and Grangemouth.