Vopak Terminal Algeciras will invest €130 million in the construction of a terminal that will handle liquid bulks at Isla Verde Exterior.
Industry’s worldwide leader has increased in 20 millions the previous amount forecasted by Alpetrol, which already announced a capacity increase back in June 2009.
After several months of adapting Alpetrol’s project to Vopak’s environmental quality standards, the president of the Europe, Africa and Middle East Oil Division, Frank Erkelens, said yesterday that this upcoming terminal at Bahía de Algeciras will be a key location to Vopak’s overall terminal network.
“We are planning to stay here in the long run, that’s why we thoroughly studied our investments, so that we are able to build a good relationship among all parts involved, from port authorities, to clients, suppliers and environment”, declared Erkelen, which also said that the operations with their clients will begin in two years time.
The president of the Port Authority, Manuel Morón, was proud that the world’s oil storage leader has chosen Algecira’s port to settle a new terminal “despite being aware of the many available alternatives all over the zone”, he pointed out.
Mr. Morón overhauled the important ciphers of the project, which include a private investment of 130 million, plus 31 millions from APBA that will be directed to public works, accessibility and new communications. During the building process, which will last 2 years, 400 jobs will be created. Once the terminal is operational, it will require the whole dedication of 40 people and 200 hundred more indirectly related to its functioning.
Mr. Morón also made emphasis on the attractive economic effect that this project will generate on the region. Nowadays, the Algeciras Bay needs the direct, indirect and induced service of more than 1,200 people.
Finally, Vopak Terminal Algeciras will have a storage capacity of 400.000 cubic meters, and it will handle an annual flow of 7 to 8 million tons of products. In fact, Mr. Morón predicted that once the first phase is operational, the port of Algeciras will be leading the cargo flows in Spain.