An engineering services provider is to open a new office on the Humber as it renews its support for Vivergo Fuels and enhances its profile in the industrial cluster.
Tees Valley business Axiom Engineering Associates returns to the £350 million Saltend bioethanol plant as a three-year mothballing period comes to an end.
Vivergo will return to full production in early 2022, after a lift in the renewable blend ratio in road fuel was mandated by government.
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Axiom had delivered its UKAS-accredited inspection services at the site, east of Hull, before production ceased, and has maintained strong alliances with the business in the intervening period.
Managing director Adam Potter said this new three-year agreement will now “facilitate the ongoing delivery of inspection and engineering services to a major renewable energy-based business at a critical time in its history”.
Launched in 2003, Axiom specialises in working with owners and managers of industrial and manufacturing assets, providing expertise in materials, mechanical engineering, inspection and non-destructive testing.
Mr Potter said: “Over the past 18 months, we have continued to support our clients through the difficult conditions during the Covid pandemic, and as a business we are excited to be looking toward the future with major clients such as Vivergo Fuels.
“This new agreement will allow Axiom to demonstrate the merits of a long-term partnership and the implementation of a robust asset management strategy.”
He told how despite the uncertainty of the economic climate during the Covid-19 pandemic, Axiom has “continued to forge ahead with its ambitious growth strategy”.
“The company has enjoyed an increasing presence and profile in the Humber region, which will be supported by the planned opening of a new office at the Saltend site in quarter four 2021,” he added. Complex process plant operators Ineos, Pensana and Accsys are all realising major capital investments at the former BP site, now owned and operated by PX Group - itself a North East spin-out.
The Vivergo Fuels plant is Europe’s second largest producer of bioethanol, using wheat grown locally as a feedstock. Owned by AB Sugar, 85 jobs are returning, having operated for 11 years before it became unviable as legislation changes dragged.
March 2020 saw government launch a consultation, with a decision to restart made in February.
Axiom’s work will include a comprehensive risk-based inspection programme to ensure the most effective management of pressure systems and storage assets across site. Axiom’s team will be a continued presence on site gathering key data to inform the approach and enable a de-risked return to production.
