Leo Group, a prominent player in the UK specializing in animal by-products and renewable energy, has successfully finalized the development of its latest maritime storage terminal situated at the Port of Sunderland.
Award-winning architectural and engineering firm BDN from Sunderland and G&B Civils from Gateshead were involved in the design and construction.
The storage tanks will hold the oil recycled from Leo Group’s Omega Protein plants across the UK and allow the company to load some of the largest tankers in operation today. This oil, a highly valuable cargo, is shipped to world-renowned energy companies and is used to generate renewable energy as well as being processed into high-tech ‘green’ SAF and HVO fuel. In recent years, demand for biofuel has soared as it has been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to conventional fossil fuels. The oil, a natural by-product derived from animal waste that the company collects across the UK, is a key component in the process of producing an advanced form of biofuel. The oil is also certified with the ISCC {International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) label, which is used by the industry to distinguish between truly sustainable and unsustainable biomass fuels.
To meet the internationally growing demand for its oil, Leo Group chose the Port of Sunderland for its strategic location on the east coast and access to major transport routes. The company sees this hugely important multi-million pound investment as a crucial building block for the future, as the Sunderland terminal will play a pivotal role in the global export of its oil.
Danny Sawrij, CEO of The Leo Group, said:
“We are delighted that our terminal in Sunderland is now operational. It will serve as our main distribution centre for oil and secure our future exports to the EU and other markets around the world, which we expect to increase over time. As one of the UK’s leading animal by-products and renewable energy specialists, it is great that we are able to recycle 100 per cent of all animal by-products at our sites and help reduce CO2 emissions with our products.
A decade ago, you would have buried a dead sheep in the ground with the risk of contamination. Now we can convert the sheep into sustainable aviation fuel and electricity. That’s how far we’ve come.”
Matthew Hunt, Director at Port of Sunderland, said:
“Leo Group is the latest in a number of pioneering circular economy businesses to have announced a major investment at the Port of Sunderland and we’re absolutely delighted that its state-of-the-art export facility here in our Port is now ready to start shipping operations to overseas markets. The need for countries the world-over to transition to Net Zero societies has led to soaring demand for clean biofuels such as those produced by Leo Group and we are delighted that the port will play a key role in the growth of the business as it continues to expand its global presence.”
But Leo Group’s investments in the North East do not stop there. Leo Group also owns the Mercedes-Benz franchise Bell Truck & Van, an established commercial vehicle dealer that has been in business for more than 40 years and now employs around 200 people. Bell Truck & Van operates dealerships in Newcastle, Gateshead, Billingham, Spennymoor and Stockton. To further expand its foothold in the North East, the company has recently invested in the development of a brand new dealership in Team Valley, Gateshead.
