UM Terminals is seeing an increase in demand for its biofuels services.

The uptick in enquiries is part of a growing trend ahead of the 2030 deadline for the phasing out of new diesel vehicles and the UK government’s 2050 target to reach net-zero carbon.

Enquiries have come from fuel producers and distributors seeking a storage partner for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVOs), a diesel alternative fuel manufactured from 100% renewable and sustainable waste.

UM Terminals has also secured an important new piece of business harnessing the company’s pre-treatment specialism removing moisture and impurities from used cooking oils before their onward transport to Europe.

Phil McEvoy, Managing Director of UM Terminals, said: “Biofuels is an exciting growth area for our business and the enquiries we are receiving are coming from the front and back end of the supply chain.

“We are partnering with customers which are looking for our pre-treatment and storage capabilities.

“As we continue on the carbon neutral timeline to 2030 and the phasing out of diesel, we want to be positioned as a biofuels service provider of choice.”

One of UM Terminals’ key selling points is its network of 8 terminals, strategically located across the UK, with a current capacity of over 300,000 cubic metres of bulk liquid storage, but with an ambition to increase this to around 400,000 cubic metres.

Vic Brodrick, UM Terminals’ Commercial Director, said: “Supply chains are giving particular attention to reducing road miles and storing nearer to their customers. It makes sense commercially, operationally and environmentally. With our terminals distributed across the UK, we are ideally situated to meet our customers’ wider transport and logistics requirements.”

In addition to broadening its service provision in biofuels, UM Terminals also has increased capability in general chemicals, including acids, alkalis and petrochemicals, building on an expertise established over many years.

UM Terminals currently has a small number of storage opportunities at its Gladstone and Regent Road terminals in Liverpool. The tanks available range from 10,000 to 15,000 cubic metres. All the tanks are of carbon steel construction, have heating available and, crucially, are located next to deep water at the Port of Liverpool.

Vic added: “We pride ourselves on adapting to meet the current and future needs of our customers and, where appropriate, supporting this with investment.

“We are moving into 2023 extending a number of existing customer relationships, to support them with new requirements, as well as onboarding new customers such as the ones in biofuels.”