Certa appointed as RNLI’s official fuel supplier
Energy and fuel supplier Certa, part of DCC Energy plc, is set to play a key role in helping the RNLI to transition to renewable fuel and to save lives at sea after being appointed as the charity’s Official Fuel Supplier for the next three years.
Certa was appointed after a competitive tender process to supply fuel to all 46 RNLI stations across the Irish region and to support the RNLI’s plan to transition its entire fleet to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) into the future.
Certa, which is the leading supplier of HVO in Ireland, will also work with the RNLI to promote water safety and to raise funds after designating the RNLI as its Official Charity Partner for the coming year.
Laura Byrne, Head of Sustainable Fuels at Certa, said:
“Certa is delighted to become the RNLI’s Official Fuel Partner for the next three years and to use our forecourts and depots as a platform to promote water safety and to raise funds to support the amazing work that the RNLI does to save lives at sea and on inland waters.”
“Certa understands that maintaining fuel supply is critically important to the rescue service that the RNLI lifeboat crews provide 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. We have a strong supply chain, and our fuel management, monitoring and storage solutions provide customers with assurances they can trust”
“The RNLI is a natural fit to become our Official Charity Partner as we are both part of local communities across Ireland. Certa’s network of 49 pay@pump forecourts and 21 home heating depots complements the RNLIs network of 46 lifeboat stations. We look forward to supporting the RNLI’s life-saving work and future transition to HVO as a renewable fuel.”
Certa will raise significant funds for the RNLI by donating 1c per litre from every online order for home heating oil throughout August. A similar donation campaign will be made across its forecourts and depots throughout November with select sites having specially branded ‘donation pumps’, which will donate 1c per litre from every transaction, giving thousands of motorists an opportunity to support the RNLI when they fill up.
Customers will also have the option to make separate donations to the RNLI at Certa’s 49 pay@pump forecourts and 21 local depots and on its website.
The RNLI will also make use of the digital advertising units across the Certa network to promote water safety initiatives throughout the year. Certa’s Volunteering Day Programme, which facilitates its 370 strong workforce in taking paid days out of the business each year to volunteer and give back to their local communities, will also be heavily focused on supporting the RNLI.
Killian O’Kelly, RNLI Fundraising and Partnership Lead said:
“We are delighted to partner with Certa and look forward to working with the team in the year ahead.
“Last year, RNLI lifeboats at our 46 stations launched 967 times with our volunteer crews bringing 912 people to safety, 17 of whom were lives saved. 280 of those launches were carried out in the hours of darkness. Each year we see how quickly things can change on the water. Our crews are always ready to respond, but we can only do what we do thanks to the generosity of others.”
“Every launch represents someone in urgent need, and our volunteers drop everything to help. Ensuring that we have secure supply of fuel is critical to the service that the RNLI provides. Certa understands this and we look forward to working with them as we continue our lifesaving work, and start our transition to HVO as a renewable fuel”
