November 09, 2012 [4-Traders] - Royal Vopak has - as the first global independent storage company - obtained an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) for multiple sites. The certification is another step to further enhance Vopak's biofuels terminal network and to remain a reliable partner for both our local and international ethanol and biodiesel customers.
With this certification scheme for biofuels Vopak stays in the forefront of sustainability developments. ISCC is the most widely used certification scheme in the EU.
After individual certification of four terminals in the Rotterdam area, Vopak decided to take a more proactive approach by having the key biofuels terminals in the Vopak network ISCC certified. Between 5 – 7.5% EBIT share of Vopak’s capacity is used for the storage of biofuels and vegoils.
This multisite certificate covers five terminals in the Netherlands, Rotterdam area (Vopak Europoort, Vopak Terminal Botlek, Vopak Vlaardingen, Vopak Chemiehaven, Vopak Laurenshaven), two in the United States, Houston area (Vopak Terminal Galena Park Vopak Terminal Deer Park) and one in Indonesia Vopak Jakarta.
On top of these terminals, Vopak is also considering to add terminals in Hamburg (Dupeg Terminal), Singapore (Vopak Sebarok, Vopak Sakra, Vopak Penjuru, Vopak Banyan) and Barcelona (Vopak Terquimsa) to the certificate in order to even further improve the service offering towards our biofuels customers.
The entire biofuels’ production and supply chain has to be sustainable. In order for biofuels to access the European markets and count towards the biofuels blending mandates, specific sustainability requirements must be met by the companies involved in the biofuel supply chain.
These criteria aim at preventing the conversion of areas of high biodiversity and high carbon stock for the production of raw materials for biofuels.
To achieve compliance, certification under at least one EU Commission approved certification standard is obligatory, allowing a biofuel company to import, trade, and sell biofuel products in the European Union.
Today, a number of certification schemes are approved, but ISCC is by far the most widely used scheme with over 1700 certificates issued. ISCC is the first recognized scheme and is a global scheme (over 66 countries) covering all kinds of biomass.
