Propane Industry News

Long-time propane industry veteran Thomas Cadenhead passed away on April 4, 2022, at the age of 87.

Canada's primary underground propane inventories decreased by 37.82% in April, according to Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a month-to-month decrease of 227 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks were lower, with 463.3 Mcm, or 55.39%, less product on hand. 

WHIPPANY, NJ (April 27, 2022) — Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. announced the commercial launch of Propane+rDME. This exciting new product combines clean, versatile and abundantly available propane with the renewable, low carbon benefits of renewable dimethyl ether (rDME), produced by Oberon Fuels, to help create a pathway for lowering emissions to meet aggressive carbon reduction standards. 

DALLAS — Arcosa Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its storage tanks business to Black Diamond Capital Management, LLC for $275 million in cash, subject to customary transaction adjustments.

Established in 1933 and marketed under the Arcosa Tank and TATSA brands, the company’s storage tanks business is a manufacturer of steel pressure tanks for the storage and transportation of propane, ammonia and other gases serving the residential, commercial, energy, and agricultural markets with operations in the United States and Mexico.

COLUMBUS, Ga. & SAN MATEO, Calif. — Synovus Bank announced it has signed an agreement to strategically invest in Qualpay resulting in a 60% ownership interest. Qualpay is a provider of a cloud-based platform that combines a payment gateway with robust merchant processing solutions, which allows merchants and independent software vendors (ISVs) to integrate payments into their software or websites.

LIVONIA, Mich. (April 20, 2022) — Maryland-based ThompsonGas increased its fleet of 127 propane vehicles by adding 10 new 2022 Ford F-750 trucks equipped with ROUSH CleanTech propane systems.

Whippany, NJ & San Diego, Calif (April 26, 2022) — Suburban Propane Partners L.P. joined forces with Historic Tours of America to donate funds toward a Father Joe’s Villages’ Therapeutic Childcare program which provides childcare and services to children and families experiencing homelessness.

New Braunfels, Texas & Casper, Wy. (April 21, 2022) — Mopeka Products announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sonariot.

Together, Mopeka Products and Sonariot, will become known as MopekaIOT, a provider of tank monitoring solutions, further cementing its leadership as a leader in sonar tank monitoring solutions and services, with more than 500,000 sensors in market globally.

GAFFNEY, S.C. (April 21, 2022) — Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) has appointed company and industry veteran Brent McKinney its new western region technical sales manager for commercial chassis, effective immediately.

Asheville, N.C. (April 21, 2022) — Alliance AutoGas (AAG) will have a 2022 Ford F550 Service Truck on display in the Autogas Pavilion at the 2022 NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo to show marketers that there are solutions available today for their propane fleets.

OTTAWA (April 20, 2022) —The Canadian Propane Association (CPA) board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Shannon Watt as the organization’s president and CEO, effective April 18, 2022.

Energy Distribution Partners (EDP) has announced the acquisition of Liberty Propane and Meadows Petroleum.

Operating out of Ottsville, Pennsylvania, and Georgetown, Delaware, Liberty Propane and Meadows Petroleum provide propane, fuel oil and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) service to customers across the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is hosting a new webinar, “Propane Autogas Funding Opportunities,” as part of its “Propane Presents Technology Series” beginning at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

During the latest mid-month period, prices at Mont Belvieu continued to mostly increase as we head into spring. The posted prices increased by 5.584 cents/gal, from March mid-month to April mid-month, while the spot prices increased 1 cent. Conway, Kan., postings ended with a 5.6-cent increase and spots decreased 4.25 cents over the month.

RegO Products announced that Shari Velazquez has been promoted to plant manager for its Conover, North Carolina, facility. Velazquez brings 24 years of operations experience to the role.

HOUSTON — Phillips 66 has named its current president and chief operating officer (COO), Mark Lashier, as president and CEO, effective July 1.

Canton, Mass. (April 11, 2022) — Gray, Gray & Gray LLP, a consulting and accounting firm serving the propane industry, has opened its 2022 Propane Survey. This is the firm’s sixth year for their national propane survey. This year’s survey will collect data from propane marketers across the country for the heating season spanning April 2021 through March 2022. Click here to go to the online survey. 

Rye Brook, NY (April 14, 2022) – Paraco Gas has appointed Donna Howay to director, supply chain management.

Howay, a seasoned industry leader with 18 years with Paraco, will expand her scope of procurement responsibilities to include product supply. Donna has previously held roles in showroom sales, inside sales, customer service, service, regional manager, special projects, and purchasing manager.

NATIONAL — Arrow Tank and Engineering, a family-owned business, has served the propane industry since 1959. In March, the company opened a new facility in Grand Island, Nebraska, to better serve its customers. The scope of work includes bobtail and transport repair for LPG, NH3 refined fuels and fertilizer, PVKI testing, ASME code repair, meter calibration and parts.

Macon, Ga. (March 31, 2022) — Blue Bird Corporation, a technology leader and innovator in electric and low-emission school buses, announced the appointment of Jim Nelles as senior vice president, global supply chain management, with immediate effect.