ACCIDENTS WON’T HAPPEN.

It might not look much, but it could save your tanker operator’s life. The Fort Vale Remote Closure System removes the need for operators to be on top of their tank when opening valves - which means they won’t be able to fall off should they slip. Other benefits include: l Compact Design. l Stainless steel construction. l 180 degree operation and low friction cable giving mechanical advantage and lower torque meaning easier to operate. l Lockable for additional security. l Ambidextrous design giving increased flexibility when fitting. l Operating housing suitable for a range of valve sizes, rather than separate housings for different valve sizes. l Bearing guided operating cable rod for stable operation. l Cable rod protected by housing to minimise risk of operational damage. l Clear Open/Closed indication. warehouse; Noord Natie has decided not to expand drumming and IBC filling beyond its existing contacts.

In addition, Noord Natie has taken a new centralised truck loading gantry into service. As well as providing extra efficiency, the new gantry includes improvements in terms of safety and ergonomics, affirming the company’s stated vision that, next to capacity expansion, investments in the upgrading of existing infrastructure are just as important.

VOPAK, BELGIUM

Vopak has committed to a refurbishment of its Eurotank chemical terminal in Antwerp, where it will spend some €70m to rebuild 41,000 m3 of tankage and strengthen its service offering for chemical imports. Completion of the project is slated for fourth quarter 2024.

Vopak has also agreed to acquire the Gunvor Petroleum Antwerp site from commodity trader Gunvor, providing it with a rare opportunity to grasp a 105-ha site along the River Scheldt. Of great interest is the fact that the plot of land is adjacent to existing and future pipelines that are suitable for the movement of gases, including olefins as well as carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Working closely with the Port of AntwerpBruges, Vopak plans to reconfigure the concession with the primary aim of developing a facility that will contribute to the decarbonisation of the industrial cluster in Antwerp by building a new green energy hub. In particular, it is likely that Vopak will use the terminal to handle green ammonia, sustainable fuels and fine chemicals.

STS, DENMARK

Scandinavian Tank Storage (STS) and the Port of Aalborg are cooperating on a project to develop tank storage facilities at the coal and oil terminal at the Nordjylland Power Station; in particular, the partners will explore how the tank farm can be used to store future green fuels. The four 55,000-m3 tanks at the site are currently use for storing marine fuels.

“We are pleased with our collaboration with Scandinavian Tank Storage, which helps accelerate the development of our storage solutions and teaches us how we can meet the future demand for green fuel storage,” says Michael Rosenkilde Lind, senior commercial manager at Port of Aalborg. “The transport industry is facing a significant transformation, where fuels derived from Power-to-X and biomass will play an important role. With Scandinavian Tank

Storage’s in-depth knowledge and network, we are taking some major long-term steps in handling future fuels.”

ADVARIO, GERMANY

Advario entered into an agreement with Sasol Germany in August 2022 to study the potential construction of an ethylene terminal at Sasol’s ChemCoast Park site in Brunsbüttel, northern Germany. It is expected that the terminal will have a single 30,000 m3 storage tank able to handle both conventional and green ethylene, for use in Sasol’s production process.

Planning and construction is expected to take about four years. Once in service, the terminal will be operated by Advario.

HES, GERMANY

Wintershall Dea and HES Wilhelmshaven Tank

Terminal signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2022 for the development of the planned CO2nnectNow CO2 hub at the terminal. The new facility will act as a gathering point for CO2 collected from industrial sites in Germany for onward transmission by pipeline to planned carbon storage caverns in Norway. The HES Wilhelmshaven facility was chosen for the development due to its strategic location, deep draft quay and extensive rail and industrial infrastructure. A feasibility study is underway, with results expected next year.

“Only with CCS can Germany achieve its climate targets,” says Klaus Langemann, senior vice-president, Carbon Management & Hydrogen at Wintershall Dea. “The North Sea, especially Norway and Denmark, offers enormous potential and Wilhelmshaven is perfectly located in Northern Germany. We are delighted to have found an experienced and locally rooted partner in HES to mature our CO2nnectNow project.”

MABANAFT, GERMANY

Air Products and Mabanaft, through its subsidiary Oiltanking Deutschland, are to build Germany’s first large scale green energy import terminal in Hamburg, with commissioning planned for 2025. The projected facility will be located at the existing Oiltanking terminal in the port and will be used to receive and distribute green ammonia, imported from green hydrogen production plants operated by Air Products and its partners around the world. The intention is to convert the imported ammonia into green hydrogen at the Air Products plant in Hamburg for distribution to customers both within the port and across northern Germany.

“We are delighted to work together with Air Products, the world’s leading hydrogen producer, on the development of this terminal,” says Volker Ebeling, senior vice-president for new energy, chemicals and gas at Mabanaft. “As a result, we will make significant investments and deploy our energy infrastructure capabilities and expertise to accelerate the energy transition in Hamburg as the key import gateway for Germany.”

ACE TERMINAL, NETHERLANDS

ACE Terminal, the planned green energy import terminal in Rotterdam being developed by Gasunie, HES International and Vopak, signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish energy company Cepsa in February this year to establish a green ammonia supply chain. Cepsa is developing 2GW of green hydrogen production at its two energy parks in Andalusia in southern Spain, which will form part of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, designed to be the largest green hydrogen hub in Europe.

ACE Terminal and Cepsa intend to sign a binding commercial agreement to facilitate the overseas transport of green ammonia, to redistribute the green ammonia to end markets in the hinterland, and to process the green ammonia into green hydrogen ready for use by end customers in north-west Europe.

The location of ACE Terminal in the port of Rotterdam offers direct connection to Rotterdam’s industry and the planned national hydrogen network, while the production site in southern Spain benefits from ample sun, wind and land, a solid electricity grid and access to high-traffic ports, including Algeciras. Exports from Cepsa’s plants are projected to begin in 2027.

The agreement with Cepsa is a major step forward in the development of ACE Terminal, which will rely on a ready supply of green ammonia to support its ambitions. The terminal, which is still in development, is participating in a study to look at the viability of a large-scale ammonia cracker that will allow 1m tpa hydrogen to be imported, in the form of ammonia, into the port of Rotterdam, with the project being led by the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

ADVARIO, NETHERLANDS

Advario has managed to gain a foothold in the crowded Rotterdam port space through an agreement signed in April 2023 to acquire a plot of land in the Botlek area from Aluminium & Chemie. The site will provide Advario with the opportunity to develop, build and operate a bulk liquids storage terminal designed to help its customers and partners successfully transition to cleaner energy.

“We are very pleased to have secured this strategic location in the Port of Rotterdam,” says Bas Verkooijen, Advario’s CEO. “This is another important step in the delivery of our long-term strategy to play a frontrunner role in supporting the energy transition. The site’s strategic location, ample size, and waterfront access offer us an excellent opportunity to enter one of the leading energy and chemical hubs in Europe. Advario looks to develop a new and future-focused storage terminal in close cooperation with our customers, industrial partners, and the Port of Rotterdam.”

Aluchemie will now prepare the site for handover by demolishing and removing all above- and underground structures and remediating the soil. It is aiming to finish this work by the end of 2025, after which Advario will begin construction on its terminal for future fuels.

EVOS, NETHERLANDS

The Port of Amsterdam signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2022 with tank storage provider Evos and liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) pioneer Hydrogenious, with the aim of developing large-scale hydrogen import facilities in the port. The plan includes an LOHC dehydrogenation plant to produce between 100 t and 500 t per day, as well as related storage and handling facilities. All three parties to the agreement are founding members of the H2A platform, which focuses on the development of green hydrogen import infrastructure in the port of Amsterdam.

“We have been building and supporting the H2A platform from the beginning, working with our partners on green hydrogen imports via the port of Amsterdam,” says Ramon Ernst, managing director of Evos Amsterdam. “We see a promising future in LOHC technology as it is intrinsically safe and fits with the port’s existing logistics infrastructure. We operate two large tank terminals that are perfectly suited for the storage and handling of LOHC. We are delighted to have teamed up with two exceptionally strong partners and look forward to working on concrete next steps.”

GUNVOR, NETHERLANDS

Air Products and Gunvor Petroleum have agreed to jointly develop a green hydrogen and ammonia import terminal in Rotterdam, with startup scheduled for 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and a final investment decision.

“We are very supportive of Air Products’ and Gunvor’s plans, which are a great example of using a brownfield location to set up a new import terminal for green ammonia in the port of Rotterdam,” says Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam. “Both companies have been active in the energy sector for a long time and are responding to society’s demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as to increase Europe’s energy independence. Green ammonia is not only a hydrogen carrier and a feedstock for the chemical industry, but it’s also an important renewable fuel for the shipping sector. First-mover projects like this will make Rotterdam Europe’s foremost Hydrogen Hub.”

HES, NETHERLANDS

In January this year, HES Hartel Tank Terminal was declared insolvent by the District Court in Rotterdam. The company was established by HES International to build a 1.3m-m3 tank terminal in Rotterdam but ran into financial difficulties caused by Covid-related construction delays and a fire during construction work, which led to additional costs.

“Unfortunately, it is no longer financially viable for HES International to invest the further significant amounts required to complete the HES Hartel Tank Terminal given the level of project finance indebtedness at the terminal level,” a statement from HES said. HES Hartel Tank Terminal is an entity fully separate from the rest of the HES Group. Therefore, this insolvency has no impact on HES International’s wider operations, which continue to operate normally and perform strongly. No impact is expected on HES customers or employees at other locations.

KOOLE, NETHERLANDS

Koole Tankstorage Botlek (KTB) put its new barge jetty into operation in May 2022, in collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam.

“This new jetty is an exciting addition to our terminal and will allow two seagoing vessels or barges on one side and three barges on the other side,” the company says.

Construction of the new Jetty 7 was a major project, requiring the demolition and removal of existing quays and berths and the installation of hose towers and a pipe bridge fabricated at the contractor’s facility. Work continued, with the new Jetty 6 being commissioned before the end of the year.

Koole Terminals and Horisont Energi have announced a joint plan to develop a carbon dioxide terminal and storage facility in Rotterdam, designed to handle CO2 and clean ammonia. The plan builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2021 for a clean ammonia terminal.

“We are very excited to announce that our cooperation with Koole Terminals will include a CO2 terminal,” says Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen, CEO of Horisont Energi. “The two companies have cooperated well during this first year, and it is essential for us to bring about solid relationships with key storage, handling, and transport partners in the region so we can establish an end-to-end carbon capture and storage (CCS) service, while ensuring that our clean ammonia can reach all potential clients. This is an important step for Horisont Energi.”

OCI, NETHERLANDS

OCI is to move ahead with a significant expansion of its ammonia import terminal in Rotterdam that will triple throughput capacity to 1.2m tonnes per year by 2023. The decision to go ahead with the work, taken last year, followed what OCI says is a “significant increase in ammonia imports” over the previous year to compensate for lower European production as a result of volatile and high gas prices. The expansion of what is currently Rotterdam’s only ammonia import facility will also help meet emerging largescale demand for ammonia for use as a low-carbon fuel, particularly in the maritime sector. OCI has also mapped out a further expansion that could increase capacity to more than 3.0m tpa and is planning to begin permitting activities this year.

VESTA, NETHERLANDS

Vesta Terminals and Uniper Global Commodities signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2022 to evaluate the feasibility of revamping and expanding Vesta’s existing bulk liquids storage facility in the port of Vlissingen with the aim of creating the first green ammonia hub in north-west Europe. The partners are looking at having the new facility, to be known as ‘Greenpoint Valley’, up and running by early 2026. Uniper intends to book capacity at the terminal to create an entry point into the north-west European markets for the growing green ammonia and hydrogen activities within the Uniper group, as one of several access points for green energy in Europe.

The project has moved forward this year, with the award of a scoping and feasibility study, to be followed by a FEED contract, by Vesta to Proton Ventures. The study is looking at re-purposing two 30,000-m3 ammonia tanks at the Vlissingen terminal.

PERN, POLAND

PERN Group is responding to growing throughput at its Debogórze fuel terminal by planning to increase storage and throughput capacity. The facility handled almost 50 per cent more fuel in the first quarter of 2023 than it did in the same period the year before. Fuel arrives at the terminal via a rail link to the Port of Gdynia, so a first stage in the work will involve investment in rail infrastructure, including modernising the tracks and loading points and, potentially, the addition of a fourth loading area.

Meanwhile, PERN plans to add two storage tanks at the terminal this year, adding 32,000-m3 of new capacity, with three more tanks planned that could add a further 50,000 m3. Combined with the new tankage and PERN’s work on its rail faciltieis, the port authority is also modernising the liquid fuels reloading station and deepening the fairway to allow larger tankers to call, and PKP is improving rail access to the port. This should all allow an increase in the volume of petroleum products received at the Debogórze fuel terminal for delivery to the interior of the country.

STANLOW, UK

Stanlow Terminals recently announced plans to develop a major open-access import terminal for green ammonia in the Port of Liverpool, UK. The new facility will represent an expansion of Stanlow Terminals’ existing sites in the area, which will provide the connecting infrastructure to allow the distribution of imported ammonia and contribute to Essar’s ambition to be a major hub for low-carbon energy.

The new terminal, scheduled to begin operations in 2027, will enable the import and storage of more than 1m tonnes per year of green ammonia for onward distribution into the UK or conversion back to green hydrogen for supply to industrial customers in the north-west.

“This new terminal is the latest milestone in Stanlow Terminals’ and Essar’s ongoing commitment to leading the UK’s low carbon transformation,” says Michael Gaynon, CEO of Stanlow Terminals, which is owned by Essar. “By investing in new energies infrastructure and building a secure supply chain of green ammonia into the UK, we are building on our expertise in storing and blending of bulk liquids to put the north-west economy at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition to net zero.”

STOLTHAVEN, UK

Stolthaven Dagenham is to build a used cooking oil (UCO) processing plant in partnership with cooking oil supplier and collector Olleco. The facility will process oil collected from restaurants and food production sites into renewable, low-carbon biodiesel. Olleco has several similar plants elsewhere in the UK but the Dagenham terminal offers the closest site to the greater London area.

“We are pleased to welcome Olleco to our terminal,” says Steve Walker, general manager of Stolthaven Dagenham. “In recent years, we have invested significantly in the terminal – including a new jetty due for completion this year – to ensure we continue to meet the specific needs of our customers and we are looking forward to partnering with Olleco on this project.”

“Our new partnership with Olleco highlights the significance of waste oil in the production of biofuels and the role we play in the supply chain and the transition to sustainable products and alternative fuels,” adds Pim van den Doel, commercial and business development manager, EMEA, at Stolthaven Terminals. “Together with our sister companies, Stolt Tankers and Stolt Tank Containers, we provide safe, integrated storage and handling solutions to the biofuel industry worldwide and our Dagenham terminal stores UCO for several customers.”

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

SKA, IRAQ

SKA Group is continuing with an upgrade programme at its Khor Al Zubair terminal in Iraq. Last year saw the installation of internal floating roofs in all the remaining tanks, which allows for the handling of various additional products. The original product pumps have also been replaced, resulting in a doubling of product transfer speed and faster discharge of product heel.

BIDVEST, SOUTH AFRICA

Bidvest Tank Terminals is finalising development plans for three projects, including construction of a brand new inland LPG terminal at Isando. It is currently working with Transnet to establish the framework for the supply of LPG by rail and, assuming approvals are forthcoming, expects the new facility to be commissioned by the end of 2025. Separately, Bidvest is planning the conversion of three existing spheres, previously used for butadiene, to handle growing demand for butane at its Richards

Bay terminal. The three tanks, with a total capacity of 12,000 m3, will receive butane by ship for onward distribution by road. Bidvest is also looking into expanding the Richards Bay site to handle growing demand for the storage of liquid products, especially since the closure of refinery capacity in South Africa in recent years. Bidvest says it has space available to add at least 48,000 m3 of new capacity and is currently in discussion with potential customers.

ACTAD, UAE

Arabian Chemical Terminals Abu Dhabi (ACTAD) is due to complete its first phase of construction in mid-2023 and put its first tanks into operation in July. The terminal, the first commercial bulk liquids storage and distribution terminal in Abu Dhabi, will have some 100,000 m3 of capacity in 40 tanks. The greenfield terminal is sited in the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), mid-way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and away from residential and commercial areas. It has a private berth of 250 metres alongside, with a 16-metre draft, as well as smaller tender/ bunkering berths.

ACTAD is already considering a second phase, using a 150,000-m2 plot of land adjacent to the first phase available, depending on demand. It is likely that a second phase would include more extensive capacity to handle gases, including ammonia and hydrogen.

SOUTH & SOUTH-EAST ASIA

DIALOG, MALAYSIA

Dialog Group has announced plans for a third terminal in Tanjung Langsat, Johor. The new Langsat 3 terminal will focus on renewable fuels and is expected to commence operations by the end of 2024.

The planned terminal will have storage capacity of 24,000 m3 and will serve the needs of traders and multinational energy companies. It is expected that it will handle renewable fuel feedstock and products, including used cooking oil, tallow, pyrolysis oil and palm oil mill effluent, as well as biodiesel, based on used cooking oil methyl ester and fatty acid methyl ester (Fame).

GPS GROUP, MALAYSIA

GPS Group completed construction and commissioning of its new LPG storage terminal in Port Klang, Malaysia this past August. The new facility, for which Equinor is the anchor tenant, enables cost-advantages VLGC shipments of LPG to discharge in Malaysia. It is fully automated and can re-export pressurised cargoes for regional distribution, as well as handling domestic distribution within Malaysia in cylinders and by truck. There are also pipeline connections to other LPG distribution facilities in the port. Annual throughput is put at some 1.2m tonnes.

“The completion of the new terminal is a game-changer for LPG shipments into the region,” says CEO Eric Arnold. “It is the first time that an independent player has the advantage of VLGC freight economics into south-east Asia. Delivering this asset is another important milestone in the relationship between Equinor and GPS. We’re thrilled that together we have been able to improve the energy infrastructure of our region.”

Since then, GPS Group has merged with its sister company, Global Energy Storage, and now operates under the GES banner.

PETREDEC, INDIA

Petredec acquired NGC Energy India, a former joint venture in which it was a minority partner alongside Oman’s National Gas Company, this past September. Petredec will now operate the business independently. NGC Energy India is currently nearing completion of a 34,000-tonne LPG import terminal in Krishnapatnam, designed to address growing import demand in southern India. The terminal is due to be commissioned in the first half of this year and will be renamed Petregaz India, operating as a standalone business within Petredec’s onshore division.

JPTT, SINGAPORE

JPTT (Jurong Port Tank Terminals) has completed phase 2 expansion of its site in Singapore, taking total capacity to some 580,000 m3 for clean petroleum products. The work involved construction of three new tank pits, adding 330,000 m3 of capacity, along with an upgrade to the terminal’s infrastructure. All tankage at the site have now been fully leased, JPTT says.

“The expansion of our state-of-the-art liquid bulk terminal is a significant milestone,” says Francis Nyan, JPTT chairman. “Since starting operations in 2019, JPTT has supported the needs of our customers in the clean petroleum trading market and fortified Singapore’s position as a global energy and chemicals hub. With our partner Advario, we remain confident that JPTT’s expansion strengthens the integrated terminal network and enhances our overall value offering to the market, leveraging each other’s expertise and length of experience.”

JPTT is a 60/40 joint venture between Jurong Port and Advario.

VOPAK, SINGAPORE

Vopak Singapore announced in fourth quarter 2022 that it is exploring the possible expansion of its ammonia storage infrastructure with full import and export capabilities for low-carbon power generation and bunker fuels at its Banyan terminal. The Banyan site, with an overall storage capacity close to 1.5m m3, is an integrated oil, chemical and gas facility, located on Jurong Island, and already has one 10,000 m3 ammonia tank that supports the local petrochemical sector.

Vopak Singapore completed a conceptual design for the expansion and proceeded to carry out a quantitative risk assessment. Rob Boudestijn, managing director of Vopak Terminals Singapore, said: “In line with Singapore’s ambition on net-zero carbon emissions, Vopak can leverage on our proven expertise of safely storing ammonia in Banyan. We have the right expertise and are at the right location to facilitate new supply chains for low carbon ammonia. We do see a strong potential in Singapore that supports the momentum of developing ammonia ready infrastructure ahead of other locations.”

In other decarbonisation projects, Vopak and Petronas signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2022 to look at developing a value chain for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in south-east Asia. Both companies will focus on capturing CO2 emitted by industries in Singapore, storing the captured CO2 at a Vopak terminal and transporting it for injection into regional storage hubs developed by Petronas.

“We are excited about this project with our long-term partner Petronas to jointly collaborate,” said Chris Robblee, president of Vopak Asia & Middle East. “This is well aligned with our commitment to support the energy transition through development of CO2 infrastructure for sustainable energy solutions and the decarbonisation of the industry.”

CHINA & NORTH ASIA

VOPAK, CHINA

Vopak and its 50/50 partner are due to start construction of an additional 110,000 m3 of capacity at the Caojing terminal this year, to serve a long-term industrial contract. Completion is scheduled for first quarter 2025.

STOLTHAVEN, TAIWAN

Stolthaven Terminals and Revivegen Environmental Technology have formally established a joint venture, Stolthaven Revivegen Kaohsiung Terminal Co (SHRVK), to develop a greenfield bulk liquids storage terminal in the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Construction work started early in 2023 and the partners expect that the new terminal will open by the end of this year. It is designed to help meet growing customer demand for high quality bulk liquids storage in the region and attract more international trade to Taiwan.

“We are delighted with the addition of the SHRVK terminal to our global network, which enables us to increase the reach of the supply chain solutions that we can offer our customers,” says Guy Bessant, president of Stolthaven Terminals. “The partnership also opens up Taiwan to our broad customer base and the integrated services we can provide in collaboration with our sister companies Stolt Tankers and Stolt Tank Containers. Together with Revivegen’s expertise and local knowledge we will deliver a terminal that focuses on the safe and efficient handling and storage of chemicals and industrial gases for local and multinational companies. And we will use our experience in innovative sustainability projects to support Taiwan’s progress towards its carbon-reduction ambitions.”

Australasia

COOGEE, AUSTRALIA

Coogee started work on the construction of 120,000 m3 of diesel storage at its Kwinana terminal in Western Australia in July 2022. The work, which will double storage capacity at the site, is part of the federal government’s Boosting Australia’s Fuel Storage programme designed to improve long-term fuel security. The new tankage is due in service in June 2023.

“The investment in our new diesel storage adds to our existing strategically located fuel terminals business and makes us the largest independent fuel terminal storage and services provider in Western Australia,” says Dr Grant Lukey, Coogee CEO. “Our existing facilities along with these new tanks offers the fuel majors optionality and access to a very efficient open access commingled fuel storage facility.”

IMPALA, AUSTRALIA

Impala Terminals formally inaugurated its first energy import, storage and distribution terminal in Australia in March 2023. The Kwinana Bay site in Western Australia, which has been operating since October 2022, offers 225,000 m3 of storage capacity in 11 liquids and one butane tank, and has an express lane for loading diesel to road tankers. It is currently handling diesel and gasoline, with butane for blending, supported by an anchor customer.

“We are very excited to be here, not only as an asset owner and operator, but also as a company committed to further investing into Western Australia infrastructure,” says Sjoerd Bazen, CEO of Impala Terminals Energy Infrastructure. “We have been impressed by the support and collaboration with the local government, the Fremantle Port Authority and other key stakeholders and look forward to building on these relationships.”

Impala Terminals Energy Infrastructure was created in October 2022 following the acquisition of 19 storage assets from Puma Energy.