Irish Tax and Customs sent out the warning in a letter to forecourt owners across Ireland this week, sparking consternation that fuel businesses could be fined for their customers’ misdeeds.

Marked Mineral oil is subject to a lower rate of tax, and is supposed to be used for agricultural vehicles.

With the rising cost of diesel at the moment, Revenue warned that there is potential for an increased risk of use of marked diesel in private motor vehicles.

The letter cite Regulation 24(1) of the Mineral Oil Tax Regulations 2012, which states:

“24(1) Where a mineral  oil trader supplies marked gas oil or marked kerosene at the premises of place of that mineral trader –

(a) to another mineral oil trader for consignment by that other mineral oil trader, or

(b) to a person other than a mineral oil trader, in a quantity not exceeding 2,000 litres and not for delivery to any other person, the supplying mineral oil trader shall keep a record, showing all the information relevant to that supply that is required under Regulation 23(4).

“Where the records required to be kept in accordance with Regulation 23(4) (Customers’s Name, Address and, where applicable, VAT Registration Number ) under the Mineral Oil Tax Regulation. cannot be supplied when requested, then, in accordance with Section 99 (10) Finance Act 2001, you may be liable to pay additional excise duty based on the difference between the lower rebated rate applied to marked mineral oil and the higher standard rate applied to unmarked mineral oil.”

One forecourt owner branded the warning ‘grossly unfair’ and said fuel retailers whose customers found loopholes to fill up with green diesel illegally could end up taking the hit.

For example, those who had installed OPT pumps that run 24 hours a day may not be present at night to inform customers of the rules before they fill up or to take their details as required by the Revenue.

“It’s a grey area. Our job is to run the business outside, but the Revenue can come after us for the difference if somebody buys it and doesn’t use it for what they’re supposed to,” the forecourt owner said.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty because the Revenue has not notified the general public that this is happening.

“They could have done this in s different way, such as running a campaign in the newspapers and on the radio for the general public that if they put in green diesel when they shouldn’t there will be consequences. They could have approached this better – this is grossly unfair.”

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Speaking to IF&CR, CEO Brian Donaldson said the company has just marked the first year of its carbon offsetting programme, aiming to offset 100% of carbon emissions with its Premium fuel range, which has fewer pollutants and is now available at 40 Maxol sites.

The programme also supports green initiatives such as the planting of 10,000 trees in Ireland, local community projects and global projects designed to offset carbon emissions.

“The Maxol Group is very transparent and also very serious about its commitment to the environment and investing in ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” Mr Donaldson said.

“We do not pretend to be something that we are not.  We sell diesel and we sell petrol and will continue to do so as long as these fuels are needed.

“There’s no silver bullet that will suddenly transform the automotive market overnight, but we are looking at all of the ways that our business can change and make better, greener choices.

“Every investment and every decision begins with an examination of the impact it will have on the environment – we take a ‘sustainable first’ approach to every operational decision.”

Benchmark programme

Meanwhile, the fuel company has now teamed up with KPMG on a programme to benchmark and measure its carbon savings year-on-year.

“It’s about how we power and develop our service stations looking at renewable energy, LEDs and  battery storage,” Mr Donaldson said.

“How do we use all this to reduce our carbon footprint? How do we heat and run our stores? How do we work with our supply chain to reduce their carbon footprint?”

“Consumers are very savvy and they want to be seen to be supportive and loyal to companies that take the right approach.

“We need to bring our customers with us on the sustainability journey, constantly looking at ways to make the greener option the easier option for all. Sustainability has become a critical imperative for businesses and consumers and it is now firmly embedded in the company’s DNA.”

Part of that sustainability effort comes via the car wash. More than 600,000 vehicles will pass through a Maxol car wash this year, with 36% of all car washes taking place at the weekend, and the company invested €600,000 in rebranding and upgrading Maxol car wash facilities in 2021.

Transition

“As we transition to alternative fuelled vehicles, we can’t forget that they too will need to be washed. And, by making our car washes more environmentally friendly, using recycled rainwater wherever possible, we are future-proofing a key, sustainable service offering that is really important to our business,” Mr Donaldson says.

The forecourt is expected to undergo major changes in future, not just in terms of the range of energy and fuel products it supplies but how it is designed and laid out, Mr Donaldson said.

“Our view is that there is still a large business in selling petrol and diesel for the next 10 years and beyond. But by the midpoint of this decade you will see more charging points for electric vehicles as more are sold in the market,” he said.

“We also see green hydrogen as being the right fuel for HGVs and commercial vehicles, but that is still very much in development. You only have to look at what Wrightbus is doing with some of the councils on hydrogen buses to get an insight into what’s possible.

“In the future we see a wider range of energies and fuels being sold from our sites, but to accommodate all of that, you need a bigger footprint and bigger sites.”

The post Maxol setting out plans to green its forecourts: CEO Brian Donaldson appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

Despite some barriers to its adoption, the industry is moving ahead and Petrotec has recently presented a new set of EV charging solutions and services.

The group’s brand, Hellonext, aims to provide the most effective EV charging solutions, turning them into a mainstream service, accessible for everyone.

Hellonext is building the pathway for a highly effective and robust network of EV chargers by providing car owners and service providers the tools they need to achieve a smarter and sustainable mobility ecosystem.

From the delivery of a single residential EV charger to the deployment of full turnkey solutions, the company provides the required infrastructure to shape the next mobility ecosystem.

EV Charging Models

With a wide range of models available, Hellonext provides both AC and DC charging solutions that can adapt to a multitude of environments.

Hellonext EV solutions cover every sector of the EV market including fuel stations, residential, corporate workplace, local authority, car, van & bus fleet, retail park, hospitality, and car park charging.

There are numerous models to fit any customer requirement from AC to DC charging and charging power of 7kw to 180kw.

AC Charging models range from 7kw to 44 kw and can be wall-mounted or based on a pedestal for a more practical and compact installation.

DC Charging models range from 30kw to 180kw and provide wall, movable and free-standing options. The unique 30kw movable option can be easily used in a car cleaning business or used for mobile top up charging.

Fuel station integration

Hellonext free-standing fast chargers can be perfectly integrated into a fuel station environment or dedicated EV charging hub site.

The company provides full turnkey solutions from electrical design, planning, grid connection, installation supporting all projects phases required to build an EV Charging facility.

All models are built with superior quality and safety standards and backed by our industry-leading maintenance team for fast turnaround of on-site servicing.

With the growth of forecourt EV installation, Hellonext offers Ultra-Fast DC charging for shorter customer charging times.

The Hellonext H2 180 Model is the highest-powered solution, with simultaneous charging outputs able to ensure the maximum power for each customer. All models are easy to install and maintain and are fully customisable to the retailer’s brand.

The post Petrotec moves forward into the e-mobility sector with Hellonext appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

The company’s game-changing dispensers, manufactured in Devon, use the most robust and resilient materials available.

Completely tamper-proof, with no unauthorised opening, Grip Hero’s Nozzle Mounted dispensers are fuel-proof, unaffected by harsh fuels and chemicals.

​They are also weather and temperature proof, ideal for all seasons, all climates – even harsh Irish winds and rain.

UV-proof to prevent sun discolouration, and impact proof to withstand the rigours of daily forecourt life. the fuel-grade colouring prevents both misfuelling and misidentification.

All labels comply with the fuel-grade labelling directive EN-16942.

We also think you’ll agree, they really brighten and modernise the forecourt.

For more information on the full range available from Grip Hero, visit www.griphero.com

The post Grip Hero’s Award Winning Nozzle Mounted Dispensers appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

The Elaflex library is open without login. We are moving to digitisation and there is an elaflex app downloadable for Apple and Android devices from which you can manage your valuable assets.

For more information about ELAFLEX contact: anton.martiniussen@elaflex.co.uk

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