Improving Fuel Distribution in Ireland

Like any distribution network as you move down the supply chain for commercial oil supplies, the quantities become smaller and the number of sales transactions grows in proportion. Deliveries to the final consumer, on farms, small haulage firms and domestic premises is usually undertaken by authorised distributors, using short wheel base tankers for easy access to the customers premises.

Much time however is spent running these vehicles empty, as they return to the supply depots to replenish their stock. These trips are not only wasting fuel, they also add to urban congestion and pollution. One solution, being used in Ireland is to set up satellite fuel depots in suitable locations nearer to the consumers.

Three Rivers Oil, the Esso Authorised Distributor for the south east and midlands of Ireland has located a regional depot adjacent to a petrol filling station in Wells, near Gorey, Co Wexford. Catering for road diesel, kerosene and agri-diesel, the facility comprises three bunded tanks, with a combined storage capacity of 250,000 litres. Forecourt and Technical Services of Dublin undertook the entire installation, providing all the metering equipment, pipe-work and loading gantry.

The key to the depot is a Merridale Auditor FX control system developed by MIS Fuel Monitoring Ltd. The system allows authorised access to the fuel stock, records the amount drawn and then relays the information by GSM link to the company's head office, 100 miles away in Killkenny. No supervision other than usual security is necessary and tanker drivers can obtain stock by self-service, at any time, day or night.

In operation the driver parks the tanker under the loading gantry. Access to the loading system is by a unique key. The driver then selects the appropriate pump and required amount on the meter, couples up to the truck and takes product. There is no paperwork and a complete record of the transaction is automatically stored by the Merridale Auditor to be downloaded to the head office.

Commenting on the installation, Michael Higgins of Forecourt and Technical Services said: "We have supplied a number of these systems to customers in Ireland and interest is picking up as the oil companies realise the benefits in terms of better vehicle utilisation, reducing costs and increasing the time available for customer deliveries. There is no need to employ staff to supervise loading and by simply avoiding clerical errors, the system will make a positive return on investment over a matter of months."

According to Eamon Hobbs of Downes Oil, the local depot has saved significant time in replenishing his home delivery tanker. "With a capacity of 11,000 litres, I would have to return to the main depot at least two or three times every day. Not a big distance but each trip would take around an hour and twenty minutes in time. At the start of the day, we would often have to queue and at busy times we would not finish our rounds until late evening."

"Whilst we have not calculated the savings, we know instinctively that the local depot has made a big improvement. I can load fuel whenever I choose, there is less wear and tear on the vehicle, we are finishing work at a reasonable time. The bottom line is that we are delivering more product every day and therefore we must be making more money."