Shell Eastern to form JV with Best Petrol in Singapore

Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd will form a joint venture with Best Petrol & Diesel Supply Pte Ltd,  a subsidiary of  the diversified motor group Prime Group, to consolidate and expand their customer base of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with vehicle fuel needs in Singapore.

Best Petrol is an award-winning fuel cards company serving the needs of SMEs since 2012. Following its  success in the mobility sector in Singapore, Shell invested in Best Petrol and became a joint venture  partner in the company. 

Under the agreement, Shell will acquire a 45%  stake in Best Petrol. Best Petrol Holdings Pte. Ltd. shall continue to lead the operations of the business  and will own the remaining shares in the joint venture. 

The joint venture is expected to close by the end of  October, subject to customary closing conditions.  

The joint venture will serve more than 20,000 SMEs, making it one of the largest fleet card businesses in  Singapore. Current SME customers under Shell will be transferred to the joint venture. Impacted  customers will be notified by Shell in the coming months before their transfer. 

The joint venture aims to better serve the needs of SMEs in Singapore through Best Petrol’s deep experience and understanding of  the local mobility landscape and SME needs.  

Besides enjoying the full benefits of the Shell Fleet Card, customers under Best Petrol will have dedicated  account managers and access to complementary offers such as exclusive vehicle insurance rates and  customised GPS telematics solutions for their fleets.  

To support their customers’ sustainable journey, Best Petrol (with the support of Shell) will provide  decarbonisation solutions, including EV charging solutions and carbon offset programmes launching at  the end of the year. 

For SME customers moving to an electric fleet, Best Petrol will work with Shell’s Fleet  Solutions team to offer end-to-end EV charging solutions, including on-the-go charging and charger  installation. SME customers who are not ready to move to EVs have the option to compensate for the  carbon emissions from their fuel consumption through their Shell Fleet Cards. Each time they refuel, high quality carbon credits are purchased and retired to offset the calculated lifecycle CO₂e emissions of the  fuel. Companies that opt in to offset their carbon emissions will contribute to environmental projects around the world that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving the livelihoods of local  communities, and preserving biodiversity and wildlife.  

Asia represents a massive growth opportunity for Best Petrol. Shell’s proposed investment will give Best  Petrol the potential to expand its business into other Asian markets. With customer-centricity at its core,  Best Petrol seeks to understand what fleet customers in Asia need and to build offers that are tailored to market demands, with the Singapore SME market as its starting point. 

“It is an honour to not only be  in business with one of the biggest names in the energy industry, but also to earn and retain their trust to  enter a joint venture with us. Having faithfully looked after the fuel needs of SMEs over the last 10 years,  we are proud to be able to serve an even larger pool of SMEs and be the driving engine supporting them  in today’s evolving mobility landscape. To our new customers, I look forward to demonstrating why so  many of their counterparts have chosen and remained with Best Petrol over the last 10 years,” said Neo Nam Heng, chairman, Prime Group and Best Petrol Holdings:  .

“With the needs of  our customers constantly evolving amid a dynamic global business landscape, we saw an opportunity in  the joint venture of Best Petrol to help us achieve our ambition of being the preferred mobility partner for corporate customers in Singapore. After all, both Shell and Best Petrol Holdings share a common  aspiration to help our customers drive a more sustainable fleet to thrive in this energy transition,” said Giorgio Delpiano, senior vice president, Fleet Solutions and E-mobility, Shell.