February 10, 2012 [CF News 13] - The Port of Tampa is planning for a new Petroleum Terminal Project that will cost $45 million dollars overall. Port officials said the current terminal is almost 50 years old and designed for only two ships to dock at a time.
According to officials, the Port of Tampa provides energy supplies for 9 million people from Fort Myers to Orlando. It also provides jet fuel for Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport.
Under the plan, the new terminal will double the amount of ships carrying energy products — gasoline, jet fuel and other products — that can and will come into the port.
Approximately 50 million barrels of petroleum are brought in each year and that number could increase to 70 million. The increase could help minimize future price increases at the gas pump.
More than 800 construction jobs would be created during the planned two year renovation and the finished upgrade will keep the 2,500 people already working at the port employed.
“You are talking about a very significant number of jobs,” said Port Director & CEO Richard Wainio, “but I would add the single most important thing the facility does is provide the energy that the economy needs to function.
So, indirectly, we support all the jobs in west coast. If you don’t get your fuel, the economy doesn’t function”
Wainio said the expansion will modernize the terminal with state-of-the-art safety valves and fire systems.
