Greenergy has completed the first significant milestone in the regeneration of a former refinery on Teesside, now called Greenergy North Tees, as part of its national programme of investment in fuel infrastructure.

This phase of regeneration has seen the facility, a top tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) site, upgraded to include petrol storage. New pipeline links have been created to other storage facilities in the Teesside area and improvements have been made to tanks, road loading and import facilities.

A new petrol rail loading facility has also been installed so that petrol can be transported from the region by train to other UK locations for the first time.

The result is an integrated and flexible supply terminal for both petrol and diesel that is responsive to changing fuel supply and demand trends and capable of meeting the future road fuel requirements of the North East region as well as the wider UK economy.

The former refinery, located at Seal Sands near Middlesbrough, was closed by previous owner Petroplus in 2010 and used as a diesel terminal. It was acquired by Greenergy from Petroplus’s administrators in July 2012 and re-opened as Greenergy North Tees in November that year.

Andrew Owens, Greenergy chief executive said: “With the number of UK refineries falling from 19 in 1975 to just seven today, the UK relies on import terminals for an increasing proportion of its fuel. Our major programme of investment at terminals across the UK is creating the modern and flexible facilities we all need for the future.

“The regeneration of the North Tees facility ensures greater fuel resilience in the North East and beyond. This is a major site with the potential to provide back-up supply to other locations such as Scotland if required.”

Following a visit to the site on the opening of the new rail loading facility, Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North said: “The transformation of Greenergy North Tees terminal has helped bolster the local economy by providing work for local contractors. It’s also putting Teesside back on the map as a major contributor to the UK’s fuel security.”

The regeneration of North Tees follows investments by Greenergy in storage and distribution facilities at Thames Oilport (acquired in 2012 in a joint venture with Vopak and Shell), Cardiff (2010), Teesside (2009), Plymouth (2008) and West Thurrock, Thames (2008).

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