New era for the magazine and new Editor

Author : J GALE

09 March 2011

Welcome to the March edition of HazardEx – I am the new Editor of the magazine and therefore am very much looking forward to meeting some of you out in the marketplace over the coming months. In this edition of the publication we provide insight into the key issues affecting your business as we move forward. Along with the new Sales Manager - Olly Filmer here at IML, I hope to receive feedback from you on any issue affecting your company and the hazardous areas sector at large.

This issue focuses on design, build and planning in regard to a nuclear plant – such as Sellafield, alongside a communications feature and show previews on Hannover – Messe 2011 and International Firex.
Ron Sinclair, Managing Director of Baseefa, was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to certification and standardisation and provides an informative overview of the latest standards affecting the industry. As he explains - newcomers to the field – and sometimes even those who have been involved for some time – often find it difficult to distinguish the roles of the various European and international bodies involved in standards writing and certification. In this article, based on his presentation at the HazardEx Conference, he attempts to show the interaction between the various involved bodies and to answer some basic questions.
This is in addition to insight on the ATEX regulations - that demand accurate documentation of realised inspection processes in order to prove a company’s compliance with legislation. Maintaining and inspecting electrical equipment installed within hazardous areas of plants represents an enormous task for maintenance personnel.
In other news - Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, has taken issue with BP’s plans to establish a Siberian joint venture with Rosneft. He also accused UK industry leaders of “greenwash” – whereby companies deliberately distort the truth about their environmental track records. BP’s proposed deal, the Carbon Trust boss argues, “is proof that, for all the talk of taking sustainability seriously, our major companies still prioritise traditional high carbon ventures over genuine green growth.”
BP has also announced that it is to halve its US refining capacity by selling its Texas City and Carson refineries. The sales, which are part of repositioning of the trouble-prone group’s US refining and marketing (R&M) business, are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.
PetroChina has offered $1 billion to buy a 50% share of INEOS Group’s European refining business, which includes the refineries at Grangemouth in Scotland and Lavéra in France.
According to the UK group. the deal will improve the long-term sustainability of the INEOS refineries, enhance security of supply for customers and secure jobs and skills in both the UK and France
The deal would lead to a partnership between INEOS and PetroChina comprising a trading joint venture and a refining joint venture – both to be operated independently of the INEOS Group and be formed in Q2 2011. “This new partnership will secure investment and the long-term sustainability of both sites in a highly competitive market and ensure we continue to be Europe’s leading independent crude oil refiner,” said Calum MacLean, CEO of INEOS Refining.
The Grangemouth refinery is located on the Firth of Forth with direct access to crude oil and gas from the North Sea. The Grangemouth refinery processes around 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day and provides fuel to Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland.
Ensus has also been in the news as it is continuing to battle an odour problem, which has been affecting people living near its bioethanol plant in Wilton on Teesside for most of the last 12 months.
The company is still receiving complaints about emissions of an unpleasant odour, which has been caused by problems with two driers and an associated scrubbing system.
I hope you enjoy the issue.

John Gale
Editor
John.gale@imlgroup.co.uk
www.hazardexonthenet.net