Новости

15–20 years ago, the fuel industry was not developed enough for companies to freely install their own refueling stations on their premises, even in a small format with an above-ground tank. Such stations became known in the equipment market as container fuel stations, as the tank itself acts as a “container” for storing a strategic fuel reserve. The format has become so widespread that companies with their own vehicle fleets cannot imagine operating without mini stations. These stations can do almost everything: refuel, track fuel, generate and export reports.

The main barrier to acquiring such an assistant is its high cost. Large players in the fuel market, understanding their customers’ needs, began offering container fuel stations (CFS) for rent. The first mini station of this kind was installed by the fuel supplier ALFAMONOLIT LLC for a client four years ago. Gradually, this format has spread, its advantages became obvious, and companies themselves provided feedback about cost savings and convenience. Today, this service is used by companies with their own fleets in the Urals, Bashkortostan, Moscow region, and many other regions.

An invaluable solution for road construction companies

ALFAMONOLIT LLC, based in Yekaterinburg, supplies petroleum products. The city consistently ranks among the top 600 largest cities in the world, contributing up to 60% of global GDP. This is largely thanks to the mining industry, the largest business segment consuming significant amounts of fuel. Many of these companies have collaborated with ALFAMONOLIT LLC for over ten years.

Another category with substantial fleets is road construction companies building access roads to production sites. They drain swampy areas, construct embankments, lay asphalt – all of which requires uninterrupted operation of machinery, which must be refueled quickly. In northern regions, the distance to stationary gas stations complicates the process. The only way to ensure a steady fuel supply is to install a container refueling station. ALFAMONOLIT LLC offers Benza CFS for rent to such companies, at no cost for installation. The system works as follows: the company installs the CFS, and the client only pays for the fuel supplied by ALFAMONOLIT LLC. The most convenient tank volume is 40 cubic meters, enough to refuel 10–20 vehicles per day.

“In road construction, deadlines are tight. If machinery refuels at a distant station, it wastes a lot of time. Especially at remote production sites, there are no gas stations for dozens of kilometers. Another option is delivering fuel with a trailer, but that carries less volume. With an on-site CFS, there is always a replenished fuel reserve. It’s convenient and profitable. Machinery can operate without interruption,” says Anton Lakhtin, ALFAMONOLIT LLC service engineer.

New location? No problem!

Rental CFS units can be temporarily installed and moved to a new site. If a road company starts constructing access roads to a site, one CFS is placed for coverage within 50 km. Production sites may span up to 200 km. After completing work at one location, the station is relocated.

“When all work within a 50 km radius is done, the station is moved to a new site. Sometimes, companies are responsible for sections of the route year-round – clearing snow, repairing roads – in such cases, the station stays in a convenient place,” explains Anton Lakhtin.

Who will maintain it?

Another segment increasingly opting for rented mini stations is agricultural producers. While their fuel consumption is lower, they also need to refuel machinery. Small enterprises usually need only one CFS.

“For example, a farm with 5,000 cows and 50 hectares of feed fields only needs a 40 cubic meter fuel reserve. If the farm has a limited budget, renting the station and paying only for fuel is more cost-effective,” says a representative of ALFAMONOLIT LLC.

Agricultural enterprises are conservative in adopting new technologies. Not all are ready to switch to modern fuel dispensing equipment, often due to lack of experience. A common question: “Who maintains the CFS?” The answer is simple. Since the equipment is rented, ALFAMONOLIT LLC specialists handle all maintenance.

“Recently, a client’s station had a faulty volume meter. We replaced it with a new one costing around 30,000 RUB. We also replace nozzles and filters – all component replacements are done by us. The client only conducts a daily visual check for leaks or malfunctions. If something fails, we call and go on-site,” the company representative explains.

100% benefit: the enterprise uses a Benza container station without worrying about repair costs. Agricultural clients find this convenient. CFS units are successfully used on farms in Bashkortostan, Ryazan, and Novosibirsk regions.

Up to 20% fuel savings

In autumn 2023, ALFAMONOLIT LLC installed five Benza CFS units (40 cubic meters each) for a road construction company at remote sites. The client needed a fuel reserve and full control over fuel usage and delivery. Without proper control, fuel losses occur: up to 9% due to dishonest staff, 7–8% due to long trips to gas stations, and 1–3% from fuel under-delivery. With Benza CFS, these losses are eliminated.

Level sensors monitor the fuel delivery. Drivers can only refuel within pre-set limits; unauthorized withdrawals are impossible. Annual savings for companies with high fuel consumption are significant.

Given rising prices, companies look for ways to control resources previously unmonitored, especially fuel. Renting a CFS is the first step. After evaluating the equipment, companies may later purchase their own container station.

Advice from ALFAMONOLIT LLC: if your fleet is large, don’t overload one CFS with too many users. Some clients assign up to 50 users per station – too many. Recommended: up to 30 users. This ensures fuel reserves last longer and refueling can continue smoothly.

Source: Benza