FUEL supplier Greenergy has outlined its ambitious plans for the North East after buying the former Petroplus oil storage terminal on Teesside out of administration.

The London-based business is part of a consortium that also acquired the Coryton refinery in Essex in June, which was part of the administration when Petroplus collapsed in January.

Greenergy has already invested in the Vopak site next to Petroplus at Seal Sands, converting the former chemical works into a modern fuel manufacturing facility. It also has sites in Cardiff, Plymouth and West Thurrock on the Thames.

Greenergy chief executive Andrew Owens said: “The North East is an important hub in our UK fuel infrastructure platform and an area where we have significant sales volume. We will continue to manufacture fuel and supply our customers from the Vopak facility.

“Once it has been developed, this new site will be integrated into our existing North East system to give additional product and manufacturing capability.”

Greenenergy supplies more than 10 billion litres of petrol, diesel and biofuel – around a fifth of the road fuel sold in Britain – to major oil companies, supermarkets, fuel resellers, bus and logistics companies.

It has big plans for Teesside, including the construction of a new rail head from the existing link to create a new hub for its UK rail distribution network.

The terminal will remain closed while the detailed plans are drawn up and the 20 staff on site – whose jobs have been secured as a result of the deal – will be part of the development process.