SHELL UK has given a massive boost to the liquefied petroleum gas market with the announcement that it is to invest £10 million to make LPG readily available to 80% of British motorists by 2001. The plan will see 200 new auto-LP Gas pumps on Shell forecourts throughout the UK, starting with the opening of a new facility at Dover South Services, and followed by a further 25 within the next five months.

The locations of the first 50 sites have been earmarked, and Shell has said it will welcome input from fleet operators and local authorities on the location of the next 150. The oil giant already operates 15 public LPG refuelling sites and supports 50 home-based sites for large fleet operators. When completed, Shell's network will dominate the UK LPG scene, tripling the size of today's refuelling infrastructure of 120 outlets, and dwarfing other initiatives such as Calor's plans to open 25 sites within the M25. The initial wave of Shell's investment will be focused on urban filling stations and major motorways such as the M1, M3 and M6, the primary driving grounds of fleet vehicles.

Pascal Rambaud, managing director of Shell Gas, said: 'We are the first company in the UK to invest heavily in a forecourt gas network which will enable motorists to fill up with auto-LP Gas where and when they want to. It is clear from recent Budgets that the Government is committed to encouraging increased use of auto-LP Gas. This confidence is now reflected in our decision to accelerate our network development.'