EPW013207 ENGLAND (1925). The Medway Oil Storage Company Ltd, Isle of Grain, 1925

Grain Island Firing Point and Yantlet Battery

The Medway Oil and Storage Company, MOSCO, set up the first oil refinery on the Isle of Grain in 1923. At the time the UK refining capacity was very low, petrol being refined overseas and brought in by tanker. MOSCO marketed its petrol under the 'Power' brand and, as an independent producer, undercut Shell by 1d (a penny) per gallon. It was able to do this as its supplies came from Russia through an Anglo Soviet trade agreement. See http://services.english-heritage.org.uk/ResearchReportsPdfs/021_2013WEB.pdf page 32 MOSCO was bought by the Vacuum Oil Company in 1928 and later in the year was merged with the Western Refining and Marketing Company. (American Industry in Europe By Frank Allan Southard - Google Books) The company closed the refinery in 1932, but the oil storage facility remained in use. (English Heritage Report 1-2014, Isle of Grain, Hoo Peninsula, Kent page 13)