News bulletin – storage terminals

NEWS BULLETIN

STORAGE TERMINALS

OT ADDS MORE TANKAGE

Oiltanking Antwerp Gas Terminal has commissioned a new 135,000-m³ fully refrigerated storage tank, dedicated to the storage of butane for Ineos. The new double-containment tank doubles capacity at the terminal and marks a first step in its expansion plans; a second tank with similar dimensions is already under construction.

“By completing this project, Oiltanking reiterates its capability as a world class service provider for gas logistics,” says Douglas van der Wiel, senior vice-president, EMEA at Oiltanking. “This project had its challenges along the way, but the project team managed to progress the construction in accordance with all applicable standards and more importantly in a safe way. We would obviously like to thank Ineos for its continued trust in our company as well as our employees, our main contractor TGE, and all other stakeholders involved for the hard work put in enabling us to reach this milestone.”

In South Africa, meanwhile, Oiltanking MOGS Saldanha has completed first phase commissioning at its new crude oil terminal in Saldanha Bay (above). The terminal currently has nine storage tanks offering 1.6m m³ of capacity and there is space to expand this to 2.1m m³. The terminal is equipped for crude oil blending and is connected to a VLCC jetty.

“With the completion of this project we offer a new range of services in terms of crude oil logistics,” says CEO Dirk Exalto. “I would like to thank our first moving clients entrusting us with the handling of their valuable products. The project would not have been successful without the teamwork displayed by all parties involved. I would specifically like to thank WBHO, as our main contractor, as well as the subcontractors, all other stakeholders and Oiltanking MOGS Saldanha colleagues for the hard work that made us reach this milestone in a joint effort.”

Oiltanking MOGS Saldanha is a joint venture between Oiltanking, MOGS and Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa. www.oiltanking.com

TRADEBE TAKES TWG

Tradebe Port Services, Tradebe’s tank storage division, has acquired TWG Tanklager Wilhelmsburg, which operates a 34,500-m³ chemical storage terminal in Hamburg, Germany, from BDH Biodiesel Hamburg. Tradebe says the site, one of the few remaining independent bulk iquids terminals in the port of Hamburg, has permits to expand capacity by 40,000 m³.

“We are delighted with this acquisition as it allows to expand our storage terminal business in the strategic Port of Hamburg,” says Josep Creixell, chairman of Barcelona-based Tradebe. “This acquisition fits well with our strategy of providing a flexible and customised service to our clients and stakeholders, whilst enlarging the range of services into chemicals and specialty chemicals. Furthermore, the acquisition strengthens the presence of our Group in the German market, a key geography for our group’s growth strategy. We see very attractive opportunities to develop new projects in TWG.”

Dr Heino Schmidt, CFO of Dr August Oetker AG, which sold the terminal, adds: “We are glad to have found a good new home for TWG Tanklager Wilhelmsburg. Tradebe Port Services is a strategic player, family-owned, and able to provide a good platform from which TWG Tanklager Wilhelmsburg will be able to grow and prosper.” Michael Westhagemann, senator for Economics and Innovation of the

Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, notes: “I am pleased that with Tradebe a new owner has been found who will keep the company and jobs and who would like to expand further at the location in the Port of Hamburg. This decision is based on the fact that a dynamic future awaits the Port of Hamburg that fits into the strategic direction of the company.” www.tradebe.com

RUBIS READY FOR TEPSA

Rubis has reported a mixed set of results for the first half of 2020, with revenues overall down 21 per cent, largely due to a slump in sales and prices in its Rubis Énergie distribution business. Rubis Terminal fared better, demonstrating “a great deal of resilience,” and achieving a 2 per cent increase in EBITDA to €43m.

The Covid-19 lockdown led to a 70 per cent drop in fuel consumption in France, which hit depot turnover, but the return of a contango market led to high demand for storage capacity at its terminals and to a number of new contracts being signed, particularly in Turkey.

Rubis also announces that Rubis Terminal, now a joint venture with I Squared Capital, expects to close the acquisition of Spanish tank terminal operator Tepsa in the fourth quarter. Last month it raised €150m through a bond issue to help fund the acquisition. rubis.fr

ZENITH HEADS FOR LA

Zenith Energy has completed the acquisition of three bulk liquids storage terminals in the Los Angeles area from Plains All American Pipeline. “Zenith is excited to be entering the Los Angeles market with these strategic assets, which can efficiently supply California’s current energy needs with great flexibility to play a part in the future low-carbon energy landscape,” says Jeff Armstrong, president/CEO of Zenith.

The acquired assets comprise the Long Beach, Dominguez Hills and Alamitos terminals, which have a combined storage capacity of 8.2m bbl (1.3m m³), together with bi-directional pipelines linking the three sites together and to deepwater docks, local refineries and the bio-refining system in southern California.

“The Los Angeles Terminals and related infrastructure are both beneficial for customers and strategically important for our business,” says Armstrong. “We look forward to bringing to bear our core values, including safety first and environmental protection among many others, through our expanded footprint to continue to deliver high-quality service. We are also excited to welcome new employees to the Zenith family as we swiftly transition operation of the terminals.”

Following the transaction, Zenith Terminals now has 23 sites in the US and two in Europe. zenithterminals.com

PRAX BUYS IN ZEEBRUGGE

Harvest Energy Marine, part of the Prax Group, has acquired a 20,000-m³ storage terminal in Zeebrugge, Belgium from Total. The renamed Prax Terminals Belgium facility will be used primarily for the storage and supply of marine bunker fuels.

“I am delighted to announce the acquisition of the terminal in the port of Zeebrugge, which reflects our strategic objective to move into a new stage of accelerated investment, growth and development,” says Sanjeev Kumar, CEO of the Prax Group. “This acquisition demonstrates our proactive approach to the ever-changing needs of our customers in the marine fuels environment and our commitment to build a robust and reliable supply chain to meet those needs. It is the natural evolution in our progression towards making Harvest Energy Marine a leading player in the global marine market.”

Geert Boden, general manager of Harvest Energy Marine, adds: “As we continue to serve customers from right across the north west of the continent, it is imperative for us to maintain the strong brand reputation and high standards of safety, supply and service for which we are known. The acquisition of the terminal in Zeebrugge means that Harvest Energy Marine is readily able to adapt to the changes in the current bunkering market. We are in a great place to respond to the requirements of our customers, both new and existing, in order to continue to deliver innovative solutions to reduce refuelling times, whilst providing customers with their most important resource.” prax.com