Stanlow, 22 April 2021: Essar Oil UK, the owner of the Stanlow Refinery, reported today that it has successfully addressed the required financing to replace the previous receivables facility.
The refinery continues to operate as normal, with uninterrupted supply of products to meet the needs of our customers. Demand for the refinery’s products continues to strengthen alongside the easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK.
This is further demonstrated by the significant increase of products being sold at the refinery, which is now generating positive EBITDA in the region of US$40 million for the second calendar quarter of 2021 (which compares to negative US$18 million in the corresponding quarter of 2020). The company will also benefit further from the anticipated recovery in aviation fuel demand in the coming months.
After the disruption caused by the pandemic, the company is continuing with its plans to strengthen its balance sheet, and is therefore expecting to conclude a further financing by the end of June 2021. The company is confident that this further financing will be concluded swiftly, based on the proposals it has received. The company will also deliver operational cost reduction initiatives during the year to further improve the position.
A spokesperson for Essar said:
“We are delighted to report on the positive developments at the refinery. We are grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from our customers, suppliers and the Government through the last year. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with high-value products and progressing our post-carbon transformation plans.”
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About Essar Oil UK
Essar Oil (UK) Limited is a leading UK-focused downstream energy company that owns and operates the Stanlow Refinery located on the south side of the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool. Stanlow produces 16% of UK road transport fuels and the refinery processes 10 million tonnes of crude and feedstocks annually.
Since acquiring Stanlow in 2011, Essar has invested $1 billion in the Essar Oil UK business. The site’s largest ever turnaround in 2018 saw the successful delivery of a project that increased annual throughput capacity from 68 million to 75 million barrels, as well as improving yields and driving revenues.
Essar is a major supplier in the North West and beyond with customers including most of the major retail brands operated by international oil companies and supermarkets, Manchester Airport, leading commercial airlines and the region’s trains and buses. It is the lowest cost supplier into the North West and is highly competitive in supplying adjacent markets. Last year, the company acquired BP assets in the Midlands to further strengthen its logistics infrastructure network.
Essar is committed to playing a key role in the decarbonisation of the UK.
Media contacts:
Ian Cotton, Head of Communications: ian.cotton@essaroil.co.uk or 07805 854169
Simon Pugh, Director, Portland: simon.pugh@portland-communications.com or 07762 657280