Essar Energy Transition has announced that its Stanlow refinery in northwest England achieved its highest domestic fuel sales on record in 2025, marking the strongest performance at the site since Essar’s acquisition in 2011.
The company said refined product throughput at Stanlow increased by about 8% compared with the previous year, with dispatch volumes nearing historic highs despite ongoing infrastructure transitions at the facility. This growth was supported by strong demand within the UK and an expanded nationwide supply strategy that helped broaden its market share.
Across business segments, retail and aviation fuel sales saw particularly robust gains. Essar’s branded retail network grew to 58 forecourt sites, and the company now supplies fuel to over 100 dealer-owned stations throughout the UK. In the aviation segment, Essar expanded its reach to directly supply fuel to ten major airports.
To strengthen fuel supply resilience, Essar utilised distribution hubs at several strategic locations, enabling timely deliveries to rail, bus and commercial transport operators, especially after the closure of two UK refineries during 2025.
The year also included a major maintenance and upgrade programme, with around $100 million invested in a refinery turnaround as part of a broader $350 million capital improvement plan. This work boosted the refinery’s processing capacity and included the installation of the UK’s first hydrogen-ready furnace, an investment supporting future decarbonisation efforts.
Essar said the record sales performance underscores the important role of domestic refining in the UK’s energy landscape and reiterated its call for policy measures that help maintain a competitive local refining sector.
