Vopak opens 16 new feedstock tanks at Vlaardingen terminal in Port of Rotterdam

Photo: Royal Vopak

Vopak announced May 10 it is celebrating the opening of 16 new tanks with a combined capacity of nearly 17 million gallons at its Vlaardingen terminal in the Port of Rotterdam.

The new tanks are designed to store waste-based feedstocks for biobased diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and will help meet the rising demand for energy from renewable sources in Europe.

Vopak Vlaardingen has a long-term commercial agreement with Shell to store feedstocks for Shell’s new biorefinery in Rotterdam.

Shell’s biorefinery will be one of Europe’s largest SAF production facilities, producing SAF and renewable diesel from waste materials such as used cooking oil (UCO), waste animal fat and other residual products.

Vopak Terminal Vlaardingen is strategically located in the Port of Rotterdam and is well-connected for logistics via vessels, barges, trucks and trains.

The terminal has extensive experience in storing products such as UCO and tallow.

In 2021, Vopak started repurposing part of the terminal for waste-based feedstocks to support the energy transition.

Vopak has invested approximately 90 million euros (USD$98.8 million) in new infrastructure, which further diversifies the Vlaardingen portfolio with state-of-the-art assets.

This project is in line with Vopak’s strategic goal to accelerate towards new energy by developing infrastructure solutions that support customers and society in decarbonization.

As previously announced, Vopak will accelerate its portfolio investments towards new energies and sustainable feedstocks by allocating 1 billion euros (USD$1.1 billion) in growth capital to these activities by 2030.

This is half of Vopak’s growth capital allocation until 2030.

Vopak’s focus is on infrastructure solutions for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, ammonia, CO2, long-duration energy storage and sustainable feedstocks.

This strategy will help shape the future of Vopak but also contribute positively to the transition within key industrial clusters and the shaping of energy hubs of the future.