Vopak plans further expansion projects in SA
DUTCH oil and chemical storage company Royal Vopak is set to expand its activities in South Africa.
Vopak, together with its partner Reatile Chemicals, said it would make two investments in line with previous expansion projects which aim to enhance its infrastructure to help meet South Africa’s increasing demand for petroleum products.
“It will improve the security of fuel supply by facilitating the import of cleaner fuels into South Africa. The expansion comprises the following two projects: A new 100 000 cubic metres (cbm) inland terminal in Johannesburg connected to Vopak Terminal Durban via the Transnet Multi Product Pipeline and an expansion of Vopak Terminal Durban with 130 000 cbm,” the company said.
Royal Vopak is the world’s leading independent tank storage provider for the oil and chemical industry. It operates 67 terminals in 25 countries with a combined storage capacity of 34.7 million cbm, with another 3.8m cbm under development to be added before the end of 2019.
The new state-of-the art inland terminal will be built in Lesedi, Johannesburg, consisting of six tanks that will have a combined storage capacity of 100 000 cbm.
The company said the facility would also have eight truck loading bays with a vapour recovery system and a pipeline connection to the state-owned New Multi Product Pipeline (NMPP) for refined petroleum products, petrol and diesel.
“The NMPP is running from the port of Durban to Gauteng where currently around 70 percent of South Africa’s fuel demand is concentrated. The pipeline reduces the need for road transport from Durban to Gauteng with trucks, giving customers a more cost-effective, scalable, safe and environmentally friendly way to supply this important region,” the company said.
Vopak Terminal Durban and Vopak Terminal Lesedi will be the first major open access independent tank terminals connected to the NMPP, connecting the port of Durban with the Gauteng province.
The second project, the expansion of Vopak Terminal Durban will comprise 10 new state-of-the art tanks with a total capacity of 162 000 cbm as well as the demolition of 38 older small tanks.
The net increase in capacity will be 130 000 cbm. “Furthermore, investments will also be made in three additional truck loading bays connected to the existing vapour recovery system, additional (berth) pipelines and a new marine loading arm. Upon completion, the total capacity of Vopak Terminal Durban will amount to 371 926 cbm,” the company added.
Vopak Terminal Durban is a partnership between Royal Vopak (70 percent) and Reatile Chemicals (30 percent). Vopak Terminal Durban is well connected via pipelines to the refining industry in the port of Durban.
Reatile Chemicals is part of the Reatile Group; a blackowned and managed investment holding company formed in 2003.