The fuel imported by Q8Aviation is supplied by KPC and transported from Kuwait in large product tankers. This is in line with KPC’s mission to maximise the distribution of Kuwaiti hydrocarbons worldwide and makes a substantial contribution towards the high demand for jet fuel in the UK. It also provides Q8Aviation with the unique benefit of a robust supply chain that runs ‘safely from well head to wing tip’.

Mark Welch, Q8Aviation’s Supply and Logistics Director and former Project Director for Royal Portbury Dock, says: “We are delighted with the success of our operation at Bristol Port. Q8Aviation’s investment in import facilities across Europe is an important part of our strategy to achieve greater control over our fuel supply chain and allows us to enter markets that are dependent on fuel imports owing to diminishing local refining capability. The reliability of our supply chain gives our customers reassurance and has contributed greatly to the success of our business.”

He adds:”Ten million tonnes is almost equivalent to the total volume of jet fuel consumed in the whole of the UK each year, and so it is certainly a substantial amount.”

The state of the art import facilities at Royal Portbury Dock opened in 2003 as a partnership between the Oil Pipeline Agency and The Bristol Port Company. Aviation fuel is transported by large product carriers from Kuwait and stored in tanks, before being moved onwards by the GPSS (Government Pipelines and Storage System) pipeline to London Heathrow. The fuel is supplied to Q8Aviation’s customers at Heathrow and other airports across the UK.

Q8Aviation provides a fuel supply service at thirteen UK airports, including the leading airports of Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester, as well as a network of fast-growing regional airports.

In addition to Bristol Port, Q8Aviation has set up import facilities at the ports of Le Havre, Rotterdam and Koper, in Slovenia. Q8Aviation is the largest importer of jet fuel into north-west Europe.