Stanlow Oil Refinery

{{For other uses|Stanlow (disambiguation){{!}}Stanlow}} {{Short description|English oil refinery}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox oil refinery | name = Stanlow Oil Refinery | image = Stanlow from a distance - geograph.org.uk - 684459.jpg | image alt =  | caption = The refinery from a distance | location_map = United Kingdom Cheshire | location_map_width = | location_map_text = Location within Cheshire | coordinates = {{coord|53|16|22|N|2|50|24|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | country = England, United Kingdom | province = Cheshire, North West England | city = | operator =Shell UK (1924-2011) EET Fuels (2011-''present'') | owner = Essar Energy (2011-''present'') | founded = 1924 | closure = | capacity bbl/d = 296000 | employees = 960<ref name="essar">{{Cite news |title=Royal Dutch Shell to sell Stanlow refinery for $1.3bn |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12895521 |work=BBC News |date=29 March 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-30}}</ref> | ref units = | oil tank = | oil refining center = }}

'''Stanlow Refinery''' is an oil refinery owned by Essar Energy in Ellesmere Port, North West England.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.essar.com/section_level1.aspx?cont_id=kTlcETqPrco= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107161853/http://www.essar.com/section_level1.aspx?cont_id=kTlcETqPrco= |archive-date=7 November 2011 |publisher=Essar Group |title=Profile}}</ref> Until 2011, it was owned by Shell UK. The refinery is situated on the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, which is used to transport seaborne oil for refining and chemicals for Essar.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Manchester Ship Canal |url=http://www.shipcanal.co.uk/manchester-ship-canal/service-info.htm |work=Peel Ports |accessdate=2012-01-25}}</ref>

Stanlow has a refining capacity of 12 million tonnes per year with a barrel per day capacity of 296,000.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Raring to grow |quote=Located near Ellesmere Port in north west England, the Stanlow refinery is the second largest in the UK. With has a nameplate capacity of 296,000 barrels of oil a day, it is responsible for about one sixth of the UK’s petrol supply. |url=http://www.essar.com/article.aspx?cont_id=4UIEtFDrFlU= |work=Essar Energy |date=20 August 2011 |accessdate=2012-03-30}}</ref> Consequently, it is the second largest in the United Kingdom after Fawley Refinery,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/essar-energy-acquires-shell-s-stanlow-refinery-for-350-mn-111032900204_1.html|title=Essar Energy acquires Shell's Stanlow refinery for $350 mn|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=29 March 2011}}</ref> and produces a sixth of the UK's petrol needs.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stanlow Manufacturing Complex |url=http://www.shell.co.uk/home/content/gbr/aboutshell/shell_businesses/oil_products/ |publisher=Shell |access-date=2012-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813063617/http://www.shell.co.uk/home/content/gbr/aboutshell/shell_businesses/oil_products/ |archive-date=2011-08-13 }}</ref> Stanlow is also a large producer for commodities such as jet fuel and diesel.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stanlow refinery sold for £219m |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1408643_stanlow_refinery_sold_for_219m |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=18 February 2011 |accessdate=2012-01-26}}</ref>

Although situated in North West England, the refinery serves much of England as it is linked to the UK oil pipeline network.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160513-the-uks-network-of-secret-fuel-pipes-that-helped-win-wwii |title=The UK's network of secret fuel pipes that helped win WWII |publisher=BBC |date=13 May 2016 |first=Stephen |last=Dowling |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://eprints.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/id/eprint/4727/6/Target%20North-West.pdf |title=Target North West: Civil Defence & Nuclear War in Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside & Cheshire |first1=Robert |last1=Poole |first2=Steve |last2=Wright |publisher=Richardson Institute for Peace and Conflict Research, University of Lancaster |date=1982}}</ref> Oil is delivered to the Tranmere Oil Terminal via ship, then pumped to Stanlow for refining and stored for delivery.

==History== alt=|left|thumb|Stanlow Oil Refinery from the air The refinery occupies nearly {{convert|1900|acre|km2}} near the River Mersey and dates back to 1924, when a small bitumen plant was established.<ref name="Interactive Guide to UK Refineries: Stanlow (Shell)">{{citation|url=http://www.energyinst.org.uk/education/refineries/stanlow.htm|title=Interactive Guide to UK Refineries: Stanlow (Shell)|publisher=energyinst.org.uk|accessdate=28 August 2007}}</ref> Stanlow & Thornton railway station was opened in 1940 to give workers access to the site and the facility an extra mode of transport. However, this station is now only served by three trains daily towards each of Ellesmere Port (westbound) and Helsby (eastbound), with these services scheduled to depart at times which would be inconvenient for the workers.

In 1974 an oil pipeline was commissioned from Amlwch, Anglesey to Stanlow. Crude oil was pumped ashore from tankers moored at deep-water pontoons to a holding station at Rhosgoch, from there it was pumped through two 36-inch diameter pipelines, 127 km to Stanlow. The pipeline had closed by 1990.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.penmorfa.com/Archive/one.html|title=The Associated Octel Company and the Amlwch branch|last=Sallery|first=Dave|accessdate=1 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Anglesey marine terminal|url=http://amlwchhistory.co.uk/anglesey-marine-terminal/|access-date=8 June 2020|website=Amlwch History}}</ref>

Crude oil is now received lower down river on the Mersey at the Tranmere Oil Terminal, operated by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company from its Liverpool headquarters, and is transferred via a fifteen-mile (24 km) pipeline to storage at Stanlow. Output is delivered via various means, including by pipeline via the UK oil pipeline network, road and the Manchester Ship Canal. There is also a pipeline for jet fuel to Manchester Airport.

In 2010, Royal Dutch Shell declared their desire to sell off some refineries in Europe to concentrate on emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East, which led to the possibility that Stanlow would be shut down indefinitely.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Future of oil refinery in doubt as Shell considers sale of Stanlow |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/aug/10/shell-oil-refinery-stanlow |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Martin |last=Wainwright |date=10 August 2009 |accessdate=2012-03-31}}</ref> However, Shell said that a number of refineries in their portfolio offered over-capacity and consequently Stanlow, their last British refinery, was put up for sale.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Shell to axe another 1,000 jobs and sell last UK refinery |last=Macalister |first=Terry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/feb/04/shell-job-cuts-profits-fall |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 February 2010 |accessdate=2012-03-30}}</ref>

After a prolonged period of negotiation, Stanlow was sold by Shell to Essar Energy for approximately $1.3 billion (£814 million) in 2011.<ref name="essar"/> Essar has stated their desire to expand the site with a 25% increase in output.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Stanlow refinery boss promises expansion |last=Barrett |first=Jayne |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12909800 |work=BBC News |date=30 March 2011 |accessdate=2012-01-26}}</ref> Following the bankruptcy of Petroplus which ran the Coryton Refinery in January 2012, Essar stated their belief that Stanlow, being a large refinery, would be able to compete with refineries in Asia and the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Oil refineries likely to close across UK and Europe, Essar Energy boss warns |last=Milmo |first=Dan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/feb/27/oil-refineries-close-uk-europe-essar-energy |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 February 2012 |accessdate=2012-03-30}}</ref> Essar plan a £250 million expansion of Stanlow, with production of diesel and aviation fuel to be increased.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Essar Energy says Stanlow oil refinery integration in line with expectations |last=Hodgson |first=Neil |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ldpbusiness/business-local/2011/11/07/essar-energy-says-stanlow-oil-refinery-integration-in-line-with-expectations-92534-29733855/ |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |date=7 November 2011 |accessdate=2012-04-01}}</ref> In April 2021 the company was reported to be heavily in debt after fossil fuel demand dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gareth |first= Simkins |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Stanlow refinery owner 'nearing collapse' |url=https://www.endsreport.com/article/1712488/stanlow-refinery-owner-nearing-collapse |work=Ends Report |publisher= Haymarket Media Group |access-date=April 12, 2021}}</ref> In September 2021 it was reported that the facility is at the "brink of collapse".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-26|title=Stanlow oil refinery 'on brink of collapse' as crisis talks continue|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/26/uk-essar-energy-second-biggest-oil-refinery-on-brink-of-collapse-reports |first=Graeme |last=Wearden |access-date=2021-09-26 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

In February 2023, Essar launched Essar Energy Transition for the development of what has been reported as the 'UK's leading energy transition hub' as part of the regional decarbonisation cluster known as Hynet, alongside a $2.4 billion (£1.9 billion) investment in the refinery.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-27 |title=Stanlow: Energy giant Essar unveils £2bn plan for low-carbon plant |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-64791590 |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2024-07-12 |title=UK Stanlow Refinery to Build First European Hydrogen Power Plant |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-12/uk-stanlow-refinery-to-build-first-european-hydrogen-power-plant |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2023, the company reported $66.3 million (£51.7 million) of profit on $11.8 billion (£9 billion) of revenue in its annual results to March 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ybnews |date=2023-12-20 |title=Essar Oil returns to profit as revenues top £9bn |url=https://lbndaily.co.uk/essar-oil-returns-to-profit-as-revenues-top-9bn/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Liverpool Business News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2024 |title=Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements |url=https://www.eetfuels.com/media/2081/essar-oil-uk-annual-report-2023_-final.pdf |website=EET Fuels}}</ref>

Stanlow operator, Essar Oil UK, changed its trading name to EET Fuels in January 2024 and announced that $1.2 billion would be allocated to support the refinery’s industrial decarbonisation.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-25 |title=New name for Stanlow Refinery owners Essar Oil UK announced |url=https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/24074371.new-name-stanlow-refinery-owners-essar-oil-uk-announced/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Chester and District Standard |language=en}}</ref> The refinery announced its plan to reduce carbon emissions by 95 per cent by 2030 through industrial carbon capture and switching from natural gas and other refinery fuel sources to hydrogen as a fuel.<ref name=":3" />

In July 2024, EET Fuels announced its plan to build Europe’s first hydrogen-ready combined heat and power plant at Stanlow, which is currently scheduled for completion in 2027 and operational by 2028 or 2029.<ref name=":2" /> In the same month, it was reported that the refinery plans to invest in infrastructure and extra capacity to increase its national footprint.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-15 |title=UK Oil Refinery Stanlow Plans to Sell More Fuel When Rival Shuts |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-15/uk-oil-refinery-stanlow-plans-to-sell-more-fuel-when-rival-shuts |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Stanlow Island== {{main article|Stanlow Island}} Stanlow Island is a small island found on the Manchester Ship Canal outside the Stanlow oil refinery. The island was occupied until the 1990s when the locals left due to isolation and the hazards of living nearby the refinery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/nostalgia/abandoned-island-manchester-ship-canal-27711020 |title=The forbidden island in the River Mersey you need special permission to visit |first1=Charlotte |last1=Hadfield |first2=Alistair |last2=Houghton |first3=Lee |last3=Grimsditch |date=17 September 2023 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> Notable structures are the remains of Stanlow Abbey founded in 1178 that remain at Stanlow Point.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/secret-island-mersey-abbey-ruins-15089100 |title=The secret island in the Mersey with abbey ruins and a 24-hour ferry - Stanlow Island |first=Alistair |last=Houghton |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=1 September 2018 |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> Access to the island using a 24-hour request ferry that links the Essar refinery to Stanlow Island with special permission.

==Protests== * Stanlow's position as one of the largest and well-known refineries in the country, has led to numerous protests over a number of decades. In the UK fuel crisis of 2000, protests over government taxation on fuel began at Stanlow.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Refinery hit by fuel protesters |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/915251.stm |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2000 |access-date=2012-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Fuel protest at oil refinery |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1048041_fuel_protest_at_oil_refinery |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=2 May 2008 |accessdate=2012-04-01}}</ref> A large fuel price protest was staged in May 2011 with the objective of "shutting down" the refinery.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fuel protesters' Ellesmere Port oil blockade bid |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-13326275 |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2011 |accessdate=2012-04-01}}</ref>

* During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, dockworkers of the Unite union began to refuse to unload Russian oil from any ship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/workers-stanlow-oil-refinery-refuse-23295663 |title=Workers at Stanlow oil refinery refuse to unload cargo of Russian oil on-board German ship |first=Damon |last=Wilkinson |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=4 March 2022 |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> Despite sanctions on Russian shipping, Russian oil continued to arrive at port on ships owned and flagged in other countries. Dockworkers have called this a loophole in sanctions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/04/dockers-on-merseyside-refuse-to-unload-russian-oil-stanlow-kent-netherlands-ukraine|title=Dockers at Merseyside refinery refuse to unload Russian oil|newspaper=The Guardian |first1=Rob |last1=Davies |first2=Olivia |last2=Acland |date=5 March 2022 |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-energy-still-reaching-uk-ports-shipping-data-shows-2022-03-04/|title = Tanker of Russian gas docks in France after being turned away from UK|newspaper = Reuters|date = 5 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-60631735|title = Ukraine: Workers refuse to unload Russian oil from ship|work = BBC News|date = 5 March 2022}}</ref>

==Statistics== [[File:Ellesmere-port-stanlow.jpg|thumb|right|Manchester Ship Canal from Ellesmere Port Dock towards Stanlow Refinery]] *Storage capacity: 2 million tonnes of crude oil and products <ref name="Interactive Guide to UK Refineries: Stanlow (Shell)" /> *Refining capacity: 12 million tonnes per year. The manufacturing complex employs 800 people. *Barrel per day output: {{convert|272000|oilbbl/d|m3/d|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite news |title=Shell receives offer for Stanlow refinery in the UK |url=http://www.shell.com/home/content/investor/news_and_library/2011_media_releases/offer_essar_stanlow_refinery_18022011.html |publisher=Shell UK |date=18 February 2011 |accessdate=2012-01-26}}</ref> *Product output **petrol 3 million tonnes **diesel 3.5 million tonnes **kerosene/jet fuel 2 million tonnes **LPG & petrochemical feedstocks 1.5 million tonnes **Fuel oil 1 million tonnes

==Haydock terminal== {{Infobox refinery | name=Haydock terminal | coordinates={{coord|53.47764|N|2.65983|W|}} | mapframe-wikidata = no | country=England | state=Lancashire | city=Haydock | operator=BP and Shell-Mex | owner=BP and Shell-Mex | founded=1969 | closure=1988 | area=90 acre | capacity=22 million gallons (100,000 m3) of white oil and 42 million gallons (191,000 m3) of black oil per year. | employees=260 | oil tank=30 | oil refining center=No, tank farm and road tanker filling }}

In 1969 Shell-Mex & BP opened a £3 million joint venture bulk hydrocarbon liquid distribution centre at Haydock, Lancashire (53.47764 N, 2.65983 W).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1969 |title=Europe's biggest oil depot opened at Haydock |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/13th-june-1969/34/europes-biggest-oil-depot-opened-at-haydock |access-date=9 September 2020 |website=commercial motor}}</ref> This was built on a 90-acre (36.4 ha), site although only 20.2 ha were developed in the first stage. The terminal reflected the growing use of oil as an energy source in the development of North West England. The oil supply companies wished to make oil available at appropriate locations and when needed; and to modernise the distribution of oil to improve efficiency. The terminal was designed to store up to 1 million tonnes of oil, making it the largest inland oil depot in Europe. It handled 5,000 tonnes of oil products daily, comprising 22 million gallons (100,000 m3) of white oils and 42 million gallons (191,000 m3) of black oils a year.

The terminal was near the St Helens branch railway from which a branch led to loading and off-loading sidings in the terminal.{{cn|date=December 2025}} Heavy oils were delivered by two trains per day from Stanlow, and one daily train from Heysham refinery.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Shatrughna |title=Instant Encyclopaedia of Geography, volume 23 |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1993 |isbn=9788170994831 |location=New Delhi |pages=260–1}}</ref> The terminal was supplied with light oils via a 41.6 km (150 mm diameter) pipeline from Stanlow refinery. Oil products were loaded into a fleet of 100 road tankers for distribution. Upon arrival at the terminal road tankers were directed automatically to an empty stand where filling took place from an overhead gantry.<ref name=":0" />

The terminal employed 260 staff including 170 drivers working a two shift, six days per week system.<ref name=":0" />

In 1987 Shell undertook a review of the distribution of oil across the UK.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=29 May 1987 |title=Shelling out to oil the wheels at Stanlow |work=Liverpool Echo}}</ref> It intended to make the most of improved road networks in the country. As a result the company spent £17 million in developing a new distribution network. This included development and rebuilding of the distribution centre adjacent to the Stanlow refinery and at the oil terminal at Shell Haven in Essex. However, the review identified that the Haydock terminal should close.<ref name=":1" /> Thirty-two of the tanker drivers based at Haydock were transferred to Stanlow, together with some clerical jobs at Haydock. The Haydock terminal closed in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 1988 |title=Shell look to the future |work=Liverpool Echo |pages=12}}</ref> The site was eventually redeveloped as a commercial estate.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite magazine|title=End of an era for Stanlow oil|first=Paul|last=Shannon|magazine=Rail|issue=326|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=11–24 March 1998|pages=32–36|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

==External links== *[http://www.stanlow.org Stanlow United] Website of the Stanlow unionised workforce. {{Clear}} {{Oil storage and distribution in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Oil refineries in the United Kingdom Category:Buildings and structures in Cheshire Category:Ellesmere Port Category:Essar Group