In the energy sector, and across a wide range of business segments, many companies are engaged in the purchase, sale, and management of petroleum products. One type of company operating in this business segment is known as wholesale operators. These are companies that market petroleum products for subsequent retail distribution. In addition to companies that carry out this activity, owners of refineries and biofuel production plants are also considered wholesale operators.

“Wholesale petroleum product operators are those that market these products for subsequent retail distribution.”

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACTIVITY OF A WHOLESALE OPERATOR

The activity of a wholesale operator of petroleum products is considered an activity of general economic interest. It is regulated, and the relevant legislation states that “only those commercial companies that meet the conditions established by regulation for carrying out the activity may act as wholesale operators, including sufficient technical capacity of the applicant and being up to date with their tax obligations.”

These conditions or requirements are set out across several areas:

• Sufficient legal, technical, and financial capacity.
• Security of supply.
• Availability of reception, storage, and transport facilities appropriate to the expected supplies.
• Minimum security stocks.
• Compliance, at their facilities, with the applicable technical and safety conditions relating to petroleum products.

The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) publishes and keeps up to date the list of wholesale petroleum product operators in Spain.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MINIMUM SECURITY STOCKS

In the case of petroleum products, compliance with the obligation to maintain minimum security stocks is particularly important. This obligation is related to the weight of hydrocarbon imports in the Spanish energy balance and to the economic and strategic problems arising from potential supply disruptions. This is especially relevant given that the supply of petroleum products and natural gas is highly concentrated in geographical areas outside the sphere of influence of Western economies. For this reason, the State must ensure the security and continuity of hydrocarbon supply, making it necessary to impose the obligation to maintain minimum security stocks of petroleum products and natural gas. In addition, there is a mandatory requirement for adequate diversification of gas supplies.

In the case of petroleum products, the overall obligation to maintain minimum stocks is set at a volume equivalent to 92 days of sales or consumption. The Corporation for Strategic Reserves of Petroleum Products (CORES) must maintain 42 days, while the remaining 50 days correspond to operators. Furthermore, operators must at all times hold stocks of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) and natural gas equivalent to 20 days of sales or consumption.

HAXX AS A WHOLESALE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS OPERATOR

Haxx, a business holding company with 100% Spanish capital, whose mission is the acquisition, storage, marketing, and distribution of petroleum products, holds the status of wholesale operator for this type of product. Thanks to this status, the company is able to import and market hydrocarbons both internationally and domestically.

“Haxx holds the status of a wholesale petroleum products operator.”

Its key figures as an operator are as follows:

• Ranked among the Top 10 national operators.
• Has more than 1,700 customers.
• Sold 667 million liters of fuel in 2022.
• The Basque Country, eastern Andalusia, and the Exolum network are its main distribution areas.

Thanks to its operator status, extensive experience in the sector, and its facilities and logistics systems, the Group aims to continue growing and to become the preferred partner for customers in the hydrocarbons sector.