Biopetrol and Vopak to Build Netherlands’ Largest Biodiesel Plant in Rotterdam
15 March 2006
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| The plant site in Rotterdam. |
Biopetrol Industries, a Swiss biodiesel producer and distributor, and Dutch-based Vopak, the world’s largest independent tank terminal operator specialized in the storage and handling of liquid and gaseous chemical and oil products, have agreed to build Netherlands’ biggest biodiesel plant at the Rotterdam port.
The plant, which will produce 400,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year (120 million gallons US, or 7,880 barrels per day) and 60,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical glycerine, will become operational in the third quarter of 2007.
Biopetrol currently produces around 150,000 tonnes of biodiesel at its plant in Schwarzheide, Germany and is building another plant in Rostock, Germany, which will start producing 150,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year in October.
In Rotterdam we have found the ideal location for our company in Europe, which offers us a clear competitive edge: First, we will be present in Europe’s largest refinery center and therefore close to our clients. Second, Rotterdam offers a large tank storage capacity. In addition, Rotterdam is the center of the European vegetable oil market. Due to the connections to the sea and the Rhine as well as the pipeline network our logistics costs will also be significantly lower than at any other location.
—Klaus Henschel, COO of Biopetrol
Vopak would like to strengthen its position in the growing world market of biofuels. The company has biodiesel storage capacity in Hamburg and London and co-site projects for biodiesel plants in Houston, the United States and Darwin, Australia.
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