May 23, 2014 [PortNews IAA] - Vopak Terminal Botlek has completed the upgrading of its Benzene and Pygas storage capacity. The new Benzene and Pygas tanks and infrastructure meet the latest customer and regulatory requirements and further reinforce the Aromatics trading hub in the Port of Rotterdam.
Total (seabound) throughput of BTX and pygas in the extensive Rotterdam cluster adds up to almost 3 million tonnes. This includes handling at terminals, production plants and ship-ship transhipment, the company said in its press release.
With the upgrade, Vopak Terminal Botlek offers 56,000 cbm of dedicated storage capacity for Benzene and Pygas in fourteen tanks of 4,000 cbm each. This includes three switch tanks, which can be used for both Pygas and Benzene. Another three tanks are dedicated to Pygas, the remaining eight tanks are dedicated to Benzene. The tanks are equipped with heating coils and are interconnected for tank-to-tank transfers. Customers are offered the flexibility of storing different grades of Pygas and Benzene. The new facility is fully automated and controlled centrally in order to ensure safe and reliable logistics. Two dedicated jetties for both barges and vessels, dedicated pipelines for both products and improved pump capacity ensure fast and flexible service.
The complete tankpit is connected to a Vapour Treatment System. This provides a fully closed system in which there is no emission of Benzene to the environment.
The upgrade of infrastructure enables customers to continue to benefit from excellent trading opportunities in Aromatics opportunities in Aromatics in the ARA region. With 56,000 cbm of dedicated Benzene & Pygas storage capacity and another 44,000 cbm of dedicated heated storage capacity for other Aromatic products, Vopak Terminal Botlek serves a substantial part of the total Aromatics trade in ARA and reinforces its leading position as Aromatics trading and distribution hub. Simultaneous loading and/or discharging of Benzene and/or Pygas to different tanks is now a possibility The system brings more flexibility, increased efficiency and improved trading opportunities leading to a more profitable and sustainable supply chain.