One of Scotland’s biggest oil and gas logistics companies has launched plans to store more than 5,000 tonnes of kerosene at a north-east harbour.
Aberdeen-based Asco wants to increase the amount of the fuel oil, more widely known as paraffin, it can store at one of its depots at Peterhead.
The company already has hazardous-substances consent to store more than 2,500 tonnes of gas oil, 5,300 tonnes of diesel and 2,300 tonnes of kerosene at its Ship Street terminal, located at Keith Inch at Peterhead harbour.
It is now looking to alter the consent to cut the amount of gas oil and diesel it stores and increase the kerosene capacity to 5,300 tonnes.
Kerosene, which can also be used as a solvent, is a crucial supply for the offshore oil and gas industry. An Asco spokeswoman said it was shipped out of Peterhead by supply vessels and used to power turbines in the North Sea.
Asco employs 900 people worldwide, including 240 at Peterhead.
The company signed a multimillion-pound deal in 2007 to remain at Peterhead for another 20 years. The firm will occupy the Princess Royal Jetty and North Breakwater, near the Ship Street terminal, until 2027.
The council granted consent for another hazardous-substances storage site in the town last year.
International oil services firm Baker Hughes secured permission to keep more than 2,000 tonnes of chemicals at the former PTS Tubulars site in the Dales Industrial Estate, on the western fringe of the port.
The chemicals, including acrolein – which was used as a weapon during World War I – will be stored in 30ft-high storage tanks and used for the company’s offshore and drilling work.
Baker Hughes will also keep 200 tonnes of other toxic chemicals, 500 tonnes of flammable chemicals, 100 tonnes of highly flammable chemicals and 1,250 tonnes of chemicals that are dangerous to the environment.