September 27, 2023 [Argus]- New Zealand’s Channel Infrastructure, formerly Refining NZ, has commissioned a further 283,000 bl of jet fuel storage at its former 135,000 b/d Marsden Point refinery that is now an oil product import terminal.

The jet fuel tanks have been converted from crude oil storage units as part of a NZ$45mn-50mn ($27mn-$30mn) project to deliver about 630,000 bl of additional storage capacity, Channel said. The firm’s jet fuel storage capacity is now equivalent to approximately 25 days of pre-Covid-19 demand out of country’s largest Auckland airport. Marsden Point supplies jet fuel to the airport.

“Since transitioning to an import terminal, Channel Infrastructure has more than doubled the jet fuel storage available for customers at Marsden Point,” chief executive Rob Buchanan said on 20 September.

Channel previously announced plans to offer private fuel storage services after converting Marsden Point into an oil product import facility. With the additional storage tanks now all operational, the firm said project works will continue on associated firefighting systems and bund upgrades into 2024.

Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), the green energy arm of Australian iron ore producer Fortescue Metals, is undertaking a pre-feasibility study with Channel into using green hydrogen at Marsden Point, aiming to produce synthetic sustainable aviation fuel at the former refinery site.

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