Vopak and its partner NIBC European Infrastructure Fund (NEIF) have announced the opening of a new storage facility, located in the port of Eemshaven in the Netherlands. The terminal will store strategic oil reserves for the Netherlands and other EU member states. It is a joint venture of Vopak and NEIF in which both companies are 50 per cent shareholders.
“The arrival of Vopak reinforces Eemshaven as an energy port in the Netherlands. From an economic perspective, this is a very interesting addition to our existing energy activities. Furthermore, Vopak has demonstrated good business practice because of its modern entrepreneurial approach towards environmental organizations,” said Director of Groningen Seaports, Harm D. Post in a press release.
Vopak will operate the new terminal which will initially have 11 tanks with a storage capacity of 60,000 cubic meters each, and a jetty for sea-going vessels. The terminal can be expanded to a total storage capacity of up to 2.76 million cubic meters in the future. The terminal has been designed and will be operated in compliance with European and Dutch environmental standards.
“We are very pleased with the opening of this special terminal, the 84th addition to Vopak’s worldwide network of tank storage terminals,” said Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Vopak, Eelco Hoekstra. “For Vopak this is the first terminal built for strategic oil reserves and it was developed after constructive consultation with all stakeholders, including NGOs, which was particularly important in light of the proximity to the ‘Waddenzee’ nature reserve. Vopak again demonstrated that it has been able to construct and commission the terminal safely, according to schedule, and within budget.”
