On 30 September 2015, Deputy Mayor of Hillingdon Cllr John Hensley and Deputy Mayoress of Hillingdon Diane Hensley joined representatives from Advance Fuels to celebrate the formal opening its redeveloped Harefield Oil Terminal, Uxbridge.
Attended by guests including local dignitaries, businessmen, customers and journalists; the launch signifies the successful conclusion of a £1 million investment and redevelopment project to construct this facility.
Now complete, Harefield Oil Terminal represents one of the largest development projects commissioned by Certas Energy. The Terminal is now the second largest fuelling facility to the west of Greater London, with a storage capacity of over 1.3 million litres. London and the south east has seen a sharp decline in fuel storage and supply over the past ten 10 years, as a result of the closure of the Buncefield Oil Terminal and Coryton Refinery. In response to demand from the market, Certas Energy invested in Harefield to provide a much needed fuel source and security of supply for customers in the capital, Home Counties and the South East.
Part of the redevelopment included the construction of a ‘Pump Island’, with multiple fuelling points, to improve the refuelling experience (in terms of speed and efficiency) for commercial customers.
Alex Ward, Regional Manager for Advance Fuels (a part of Certas Energy), commented, “Today is an important day for myself and the team here at Harefield as it sees us reach the conclusion of a complex redevelopment project, which has transformed the site into the modern facility we have here today. There are many aspects of this project, other than the physical construction of the terminal, which I’m proud of. In terms of the staff capability, we now have 18 employees on site and two positions available, plus we’ve launched a Sales Apprentice Scheme in conjunction with Sussex Downs College. This is the first apprentice scheme offered by Certas Energy, which is proving beneficial to the company and the Apprentices, and I hope to extend the initiative further across my region.”
During the launch event, guests were treated to a tour of the site plus a fully catered meal from award winning chef, Andy Waugh, and an inspirational speech from guest presenter Phil Bevan, Designer and Founder of Trident Cars,which produced the ‘World’s Fastest Diesel Car’.
Located on Harvil Road, Harefield Oil Terminal plays a vital role in the community, serving domestic, commercial and agricultural customers in London, Middlesex and the South East. Advance Fuels is trusted supplier providing road diesel, gas oil, heating oil (kerosene) and a full range of lubricants to customers in the area. The company is also a key employer, supporting 18 employees on site, with a view to expanding this number in the coming months. Certas Energy supports the wider community, recently donating a defibrillator unit to Hillingdon Athletics Stadium in conjunction with its corporate charity partner, the Oliver King Foundation.