HES International and BP to develop tank terminal in Rotterdam

HES International has entered a long-term contract with BP to develop a tank terminal at the Hartelstrook on the south side of the Mississippi harbour for the storage and transhipment of petroleum products and biofuels.

Oil major BP, the owner of BP Refinery Rotterdam, is also planning to construct a pipeline between the refinery and the terminal.

Under the contract, 52 tanks with a capacity of 1.3 million cubic metres will be developed on the 27-hectare site.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority will invest in a quay wall of 1,100m to accommodate three large or five smaller sea-going vessels.

There will be nine berths in the Hudson harbour for barges.

HES International CEO Jan Vogel said: “With the development of this state of the art terminal, HES International demonstrates that it can serve the long-term needs of its customers. At the same time, we are realising our ambitious growth plans.

“Together with the expansions at our terminals, the new facility will strengthen our position as one of Europe’s most important companies in terms of the storage and transhipment of dry and liquid bulk products.”

The signed multi-year contract is also expected to facilitate increasing activities in Rotterdam.

Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO Allard Castelein said: “HES International’s investment is in line with the trend for major international players to see Rotterdam as a strategic location and, therefore, invest and focus their activities here.

“This new terminal is in line with our strategy to continue to support both existing sectors in our port and to develop new industry during the energy transition.”

The terminal is expected to store clean petroleum products such as diesel, gasoil and petrol.

The tanks will vary in size ranging from 5,000 cubic metres (m³) to 50,000m³ capacity to make it suitable for storing different products.

The development of the HES Hartel Tank Terminal will generate direct and indirect employment for the local community during construction and operations.

It is expected that several hundred people will be hired during the construction of the terminal, while around 100 people will be employed after its commissioning.

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Image: An artist impression of the tank terminal. Photo: courtesy of HES International.