A STOKESLEY-BASED fuel company has invested in new oil tankers and recruited two more drivers to meet growing demand from customers throughout the North-East.

Oil NRG, one of the few independent, privately-owned fuel and oil distributors acquired Tyneside-based GB Fuels last year and has seen its tanker fleet grow from six to 16 in just 12 months. It has also relocated the Tyneside depot from Gateshead to Birtley.

The company supplies kerosene home-heating oil, gas oil and road diesel to agricultural, domestic and industrial customers, and the two new Scania tankers will be working across its distribution area which stretches from York in the south to Holy Island off the Northumberland coast.

Jeremy Royle, head of sales and marketing, said: “With crude oil prices at their lowest for nigh on two years, and a strong pound, our customers are taking advantage of the timely opportunity to ‘buy well’.

“At a time of renewed economic growth and confidence in the economy, and with the outlook being more positive, we felt the time was right to further invest in our fleet to meet our customers’ needs.

“As independent direct purchasers and distributors, we have a choice of several wholesale suppliers, allowing us to offer some of the most competitive fuel prices in the region, supplying the fuel directly to our customers with our own drivers and tankers.”

Oil NRG covers North Yorkshire, Cleveland, County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, and, as well as taking on two more drivers has also invested in its sales and marketing and finance departments.