23.11.15. Vopak South Africa and Reatile Chemicals have commissioned the first phase of their strategic expansion programme in Durban.

 

The decision to increase and enhance fuel storage capacity at Vopak SA’s Durban Island View operations came in 2012 in the wake of the decision to realise Transnet’s New Multi-Product Pipeline (NMPP) between Durban and Gauteng.

 

The NMPP is designed to serve the transport needs of refined petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and jet fuel along the Durban-Gauteng corridor. The coastal end of the NMPP is adjacent to Vopak’s Island View tank farm, thus enabling easy flow of fuel from the port via tanks into the pipeline.

 

However, land availability in Port of Durban is limited and the lateral expansion of Vopak SA’s facilities at the Farewell-King site was not feasible. Therefore, Vopak SA was forced to increase its storage capacity on the land that it was already leasing.

 

By removing 19 existing small tanks and replacing them with eight larger tanks the total capacity will be increased, in phases, to 234,200 cbm.

 

The programme aims to expand and enhance Vopak’s infrastructure to facilitate supply of South Africa’s growing demand for petroleum products as well as the import of cleaner fuels into the country.

 

At a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in Johannesburg, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Dutch businesses were well-represented in South Africa and Vopak South Africa’s expansion programme demonstrated continued confidence in the country’s progress.

 

Rutte said: “Congratulations to Royal Vopak and its partner Reatile on their expansion project in Durban. It’s another great example of the excellent economic relations between our two countries – as I have seen many during this trade mission. It proves the commitment of Dutch businesses in South Africa for the long term.”

 

24th November 2015