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Mobil Oil New Zealand Ltd. has announced that it has commissioned an upgraded fuel oil facility at its Mount Maunganui Terminal, increasing its fuel oil storage capacity by more than 8 million litres.

Commenting on the news, Mobil’s Lead Country Manager, Andrew McNaught, said: "To better service the rapidly growing demand from cargo vessels and cruise ships at the Port of Tauranga, we converted an existing 8 million litre tank at the Mount Maunganui Terminal into a fuel oil tank, that meets the requirements for storing and handling heavy fuel oil."

The project also involved modifying the terminal's boiler facility and upgrading the control room and operating system.

"This project represents a significant investment in Mobil’s New Zealand operations," said McNaught.

"In addition to increasing our fuel oil storage capacity, we have utilised state of the art technology to semi-automate our processes and improve safety," he added.

Since 2007, Mobil has made significant investments in maintenance and other improvements in its network of terminals and service stations across New Zealand, helping to secure a leading role in the country’s fuel supply chain.

"Over the past six years, Mobil has invested over $70 million in improving the safety, reliability and viability of our fuel distribution and retail facilities in New Zealand," remarked McNaught.

"We are committed to strengthening our position as a reliable supplier of high-quality fuels to New Zealand into the future," he said.

The Mount Maunganui Terminal is owned and operated by Mobil. It supplies petrol and diesel products to commercial, industrial and retail customers across the central North Island as well as marine fuel oil for bunkering at the Port of Tauranga.

Mobil operates a network of service stations and fuel terminals around the country and is a shareholder in Refining NZ, which operates New Zealand's only refinery at Marsden Point.

Mobil imports crude oil for processing at Marsden Point and supplies petroleum products to the New Zealand market from its share of the refinery's capacity and through its own imports of refined products.