News bulletin – storage terminals

NEWS BULLETIN

STORAGE TERMINALS

RUBIS SWOOPS FOR TEPSA

Rubis Terminal is to buy Terminales Portuarias (TEPSA), pending approval from authorities in Spain. The deal, which Rubis describes as a “transformational acquisition”, will be the first since Rubis sold a 45 per cent interest in Rubis Terminal to I Squared Capital in April 2020.

“This acquisition shows the strength of the partnership between a large industrial group and an independent, global infrastructure investment manager,” says Sadek Wahba, chairman and managing partner of I Squared. “We are growing the size of Rubis Terminal by a third, while diversifying its activity, and opening up to other very promising markets. This is just the start: we have great ambitions for our French company, Rubis Terminal, to join the world leaders in the sector in the months and years to come.”

“This acquisition is only the first step in a strategy which further consolidates Rubis Terminal’s leadership position, while diversifying its activities and its footprint,” agrees Gilles Gobin, founder and managing partner of Rubis. “This first acquisition demonstrates the positive dynamism brought by our Franco-American cooperation, based on the common objective to drive long-term growth.”

Jacques Nahmias, chairman of Pétrofrance, which owns TEPSA, says: “The sale of TEPSA represents an important milestone in the company’s history. This transaction allows TEPSA to join a group with an international presence, with common values and which will support its continued development in Spain as well as outside its natural borders.”

TEPSA operates four coastal terminals in Spain, located in Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia and Bilbao, with a total storage capacity of some 912,000 m3. Its revenues in 2019 amounted to €52m and, Rubis says, it has significant growth potential as a result of its strong position in the Spanish market and expansion plans that are already underway. www.rubis-terminal.com

DIALOG EXPANDS LANGSAT

Dialog Group has announced an 85,000-m3 expansion of its Langsat terminal in Johor, Malaysia. The new clean product tankage is due to be in service late in 2021, taking total capacity at the site to more than 850,000 m3 . More land is available that could be developed to expand capacity to 1m m3 .

“Today, we are the second largest terminal owner-operator in the region with a current total operating capacity of 4.6m m3,” says Dialog Group executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat. “We would like to sincerely thank all our stakeholders and partners for their unwavering support, as the continued development of Terminals Langsat and Pengerang Deepwater Terminals will attract more long-term investments, and help us achieve our aspiration of creating a regional oil, gas and petrochemical storage and trading hub in the south of Johor.” www.dialogasia.com

WIBAX PLANS BALTIC BUY

Wibax Logistics has signed an agreement to acquire Baltic Tank, one of Finland’s leading companies in the storage and handling of chemicals and biofuels. The transaction is part of Wibax’s vision to build a leading chemical supplier and logistics group and to strengthen its position to offer services along the full value chain in the Nordic region.

“The acquisition of Baltic Tank (above) is a strategic investment in Wibax’s future growth outside Sweden’s borders,” says Jonas Wiklund,

group CEO at Wibax. “Baltic Tank’s extensive network of terminals along the Finnish and Baltic coasts will contribute to an expansion that will increase the geographical reach of Wibax’s service offering for our current and future customers. Baltic Tank, just like Wibax, is a family owned business with strong values that is in line with our own and we are now looking forward to welcoming them into the Wibax family.”

“Together with Wibax, Baltic Tank will be able to further support its customers by offering a wider range of services throughout the Nordic region,” says Tero Väyrynen, CEO of Baltic Tank. Antti Laaksonen, representative of the controlling owners of Baltic Tank, adds: “We feel very confident turning over the business to another family owned business whose values so closely match our own.” wibax.com

TRISTAR EXPANDS IN JAFZA

Tristar has begun construction of 10 new storage tanks at its chemical terminal in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, which it acquired from Shell last year. The new tankage will increase capacity at the site from 5,500 m3 to 25,000 m3 .

“When we acquired the facility, we invested in the UAE’s vision and its position as a significant logistics hub,” says Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar. “The upgraded facility will be a turnkey and fully integrated distribution centre that has the ability to handle bulk imports and packed chemical products at high volumes.” www.tristar-group.co

STRONG DEMAND FOR INTER’S TANKS

Inter Pipeline reports that its European bulk liquids storage business, Inter Terminals, generated “strong” financial results for the second quarter of 2020, with overall storage utilisation up at 98 per cent, compared to 83 per cent a year earlier.

Funds from operations rose from C$26.9m to C$34.2m, with the Danish terminals continuing to experience demand for refined products storage. Demand is expected to remain strong through the rest of the year.

Inter Pipeline’s projected divestment of Inter Terminals remains on hold pending normalisation of business conditions. www.interpipeline.com

TSA FOCUSES ON SAFETY IN STORAGE

The UK Tank Storage Association (TSA) has formally launched a new Safety Leadership Charter, reaffirming its commitment to the original principles of Process Safety Leadership. The Charter, available at www.tankstorage.org. uk/assets/tsa-safety-leadership_charter.pdf, has seven pledges that demonstrate commitment to managing major hazard risks by promoting an engaged, positive, informed and cooperative safety culture.

“TSA is committed to ensuring that safety lessons and best practice are shared across the sector wherever possible,” says Peter Davidson, TSA’s executive director. “Our dedicated Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) committee is key to achieving this, and we remain a driving force in a number of industry safety forums, including the Process Safety Forum and the COMAH Strategic Forum.”

Martyn Lyons, CEO of Inter Terminals, adds: “High standards of leadership are essential to ensure effective control of major hazard risks. The Safety Leadership Charter, developed by TSA in conjunction with sector’s leaders, is a testament to our strong commitment to strive for the highest standards and continue leading from the front.”

Meanwhile, TSA has gained a new member in the shape of Stanlow Terminals. The company, formed earlier this year, owns two bulk liquids terminal facilities in the north-west of England, largely supporting the Essar Oil refinery. However, it sees itself as part of the independent tank storage sector and, as CEO Patrick Walters says, “TSA is an important organisation for companies engaged in the storage of bulk liquids and the provision of products and services to the sector. It provides an excellent platform to collaborate across the sector in the UK and abroad. The team at Stanlow Terminals looks forward to playing an active membership role.” www.tankstorage.org.uk