BP sells Hull’s Saltend Industrial Park to px group

The px group, the Teesside-based infrastructure solutions business, is set to acquire BP’s Saltend Industrial Park in Hull.

The park provides energy, infrastructure, operations and maintenance services to global companies including: Air Products, BP, Engie, INEOS, Nippon Gohsei, Perenco, Vivergo and Yara.

px’s purchase of the 370-acre site and its operation is expected to be completed over the next few months, with approximately 50 BP workers transferring to px employment. BP will remain as one of the largest businesses on this site.

Established as an independent company in 2002, px has proven expertise in managing, operating and maintaining some of Europe’s largest industrial facilities over the last several decades.

Last year the group secured the contract to operate and maintain the St. Fergus gas processing plant in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Ian Clifford, px chief executive officer, commented: “The acquisition of Saltend marks a major new chapter in the development and diversification of our business.

“The provision of industrial utility services on a large COMAH site is a natural extension of our core competence in gas processing, power plant and midstream infrastructure operations.

“Our huge experience operating and maintaining plants on sites like this and in the processes carried out, makes this an ideal opportunity for px.”

BP will remain as the owner and operator of two acetyls plants at the Saltend Industrial Park, which are the largest producers of acetic acid in Europe.

Additionally, BP’s acetyls business in Hull is at the forefront of research and technology in the petrochemicals field and hosts one of the principal global research and technology centres for petrochemicals.

Rita Griffin, BP’s chief operating officer of petrochemicals, added: “Our petrochemicals business is in a competitive market but one where we see opportunities based on the strength of our proprietary technology, the expertise of our people and our advantaged manufacturing operations.

“With the support of px as our infrastructure providers, we can concentrate on our strategy to drive forward our safe and competitive acetyls operations. We’re delighted with the expertise px will bring to the park and we look forward to working with them towards the next chapter of BP’s story in Hull.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →