The UK’s leading event for the bulk storage and energy infrastructure sector returned this year on 19 September in Coventry, UK. The Tank Storage Association’s Conference & Exhibition hosted a wide range of companies showcasing their latest technologies and services in the sector, with an insightful series of sessions running throughout the day. Topics in the conference room ranged from global trends in oil security and strategy, to the Women in Terminal Operations panel, supported by Tank Storage Magazine.
Wilma Kelly, president of the Tank Storage Association, kicked off the morning of the conference with an introduction to the day. The first session of the day was delivered by Simon Stoddart, head of international oil security and strategy at the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Stoddart highlighted three key points to remember when discussing the oil market; diversity of supply, the need for better data and; resilience is key. He added that continued industry uncertainty is partly caused by global conflicts, and that the uncertainty surrounding Russia was a catalyst for the change in the oil storage sector – including towards the energy transition. ‘One potential oil security concern is that the focus on transitioning to new energy sources could leave oil storage infrastructure unrequested, leading to a potential mismatch between supply and demand in the interim period,’ says Stoddart.
Alternative Fuels & Storage
James Evans, senior manager at Argus Consulting, weighed in on the renewable fuel and feedstock distribution influence of storage dynamics. He highlighted the new SAF mandates from the UK and how this could impact the landscape. ‘RefuelUK announced last year that 2% of aviation fuel will be SAF by 2025, rising to an aggressive goal of 70% by 2050,’ says Evans.
Later in the day, Ravi Bhatiani, executive director at FETSA, commented on the energy transition across geographic Europe. He commented that: ‘Terminals continue to be the backbone for energy logistics.’ Bhatiani also noted that bulk liquid storage will be key in the energy transition, and diversity of products and flexibility of infrastructure will help when adapting to geographical circumstances and customer demands.
Women in Terminal Operations
The Women in Terminal Operations panel, produced by Tank Storage Magazine featured three women in the industry. Host Justine Fosh from Cogent Skills, was joined by Wilma Kelly, current president of the TSA and TITLE at Certas Energy, Tahya Slaven, project manager at Exolum and Esma Gulten, CEO and co-founder of Gizil. The women shared their experiences within the industry, and what they believe the future of the industry looks like for women.
Addressing the younger generation, Kelly noted that her advice would be to get things done, and learn from colleagues around you. Similarly, Gulten added that networking was a highly valuable tool. Slaven advised younger generations to ‘drop the ego’ but have confidence in what you do know – just ask questions when you don’t. All three women agreed that the future is looking bright for those wanting to enter the industry, but there are still pre conceptions to dismantle regarding the female ability.
Read more: Women in Tanks Stories
Climate Adaption
Dr Mike Nicholas from the Environment Agency reflected on climate change adaption and emphasised the importance of terminals being ready for unexpected climate changes. For example, the heatwave in the summer of 2022, saw chemical and wire fires, along with over-heating of data systems. ‘Those in the industry need to be able to explain how you are planning for safety and taking community views into consideration,’ says Nicholas. Regulatory changes were also highlighted, including emergency response arrangements, plant integrity and safety critical equipment, and maintenance.
The Tank Storage Association’s Conference & Exhibition saw a great range of discussions, accompanied with in-depth analysis by industry professionals. The welcoming atmosphere of the event, along with the vast range of companies exhibiting made the most of the one-day event. Be sure to save the date for the next TSA conference on 18 September, 2025 and look out for the full review in Tank Storage Magazine’s upcoming Winter edition.
