ATEC Security delivers service levels to ensure Valero meets national security standards

From maintaining the physical security infrastructure in restricted areas to meeting the upgrade needs for CCTV and security barriers, ATEC Security has set the standard for good service at Valero

The Valero oil refinery in Pembrokeshire is classed as UK National Critical Infrastructure and as such, needs to comply with certain security regulations that are set by the UK government. Valero turned to ATEC to help ensure its security infrastructure stayed up to code at this and across all of the company’s 18 sites in the UK and Ireland.

Valero has used various security firms over the years and has high standards for the service it expects from its security provider. Exceeding these expectations is a task that the whole ATEC team has risen to, ensuring that the highest levels of service are provided both for maintenance and new projects.

The substantial refinery site supplies fuel products – including petrol, diesel and jet fuel – through a pipeline system, by sea and by road tanker to Valero’s terminals which are situated throughout the UK and Ireland. ATEX regulations for fire and hazardous material apply to some of the areas across the sites meaning that security equipment that is installed in these areas needs to be ATEX-rated hardware. As an added challenge in Pembrokeshire, there is also an ISPS restricted area. The site receives international shipping with oil coming in from all over the world to be refined. This means the refinery needs to comply with the ISPS code – International Ship and Port Facility Security – giving it a restricted area within a restricted area. The ISPS area is regulated by the UK Government’s Department of Transport which puts an onus on Valero in terms of what security equipment it has and how it secures that area.

The site features the kind of equipment that would be expected, such as CCTV coverage and physical security barriers and fences. ATEC was brought on board to provide maintenance to this equipment and oversee any further projects in relation to security equipment.

ATEC covers day-to-day maintenance on site, with a dedicated on-site team in Pembrokeshire and the ATEC service team looking after the other terminals and pumping stations. This has been where the skill of the CCNSG qualified engineers that make up the ATEC team and the clear processes put into operation at the site have both been critical for the improved service that Valero now receives.

Communication and engagement have been key to ensuring this process is as smooth as possible. If there is an issue, it’s quickly identified, put onto the ATEC system and Valero will get a response very quickly as to if it has been resolved or if there needs to be further work carried out.

ATEC’s ability to respond quickly and efficiently has held it in good stead with Valero. The trust that ATEC has earnt with the maintenance contract has seen Valero ask the team for support with a number of additional projects that had become urgent issues to be fixed.

One example of this is with a gate at the rear of the refinery that Valero’s maintenance team worked tirelessly to keep secure. Once aware of the situation, ATEC assessed it and reported back to Valero. ATEC was able to liaise with Valero and get the work carried out to a high standard.

Reflecting on the overall relationship, the ATEC team has seamlessly adapted to the Valero work environment. Valero is a large company with its own policies and procedures which can be a big thing for a security provider to come in and actually pick up. However, since ATEC started working with Valero, the team has integrated into the way that Valero works and is aware of the policies. This means that the ATEC team been able to get up to speed very quickly in the way that the relationship should work and has been able to use this to meet all of the client’s expectations.

“We have developed a strong relationship with Valero and shown them the quality of service that ATEC can offer,” says ATEC Security Sales Director, Kris Simons. “We set ourselves very high standards, particularly around communication, and I believe that Valero has benefitted from this.”