Tianjin backs Vopak’s infrastructure repurposing for new energies

June 4, 2024, by Aida Čučuk

Infrastructure provider Vopak has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Vice Mayor of Tianjin delegation, China, to support the repurposing of Vopak Tianjin’s infrastructure for new energies, including green methanol, sustainable aviation fuel and potentially ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC).

Vopak said the company will work closely with Tianjin Port Group to develop a green methanol bunkering service solution.

Tianjin, the economic hub of Bohai Bay, is said to be the largest port in Northern China, and according to Vopak, as the number of new energy projects in the area continues to grow, Tianjin is becoming an increasingly important logistics hub for their development.

In other news, the joint venture (JV) of Vopak and Canadian energy infrastructure company AltaGas reached a positive final investment decision (FID) on the large-scale liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bulk liquids terminal with rail, logistics and marine infrastructure on Ridley Island, British Columbia, Canada.

This project will facilitate the export of LPG, methanol and other bulk liquids, and will be developed and brought online in phases, with a projected gross capital cost of CA$1.35 billion (US$990 million), excluding governmental incentives and support.

In 2024, Vopak also joined forces with industrial gas supplier Air Liquide to look into the development and operation of infrastructure for ammonia import, cracking and hydrogen distribution in Singapore. Furthermore, the company commissioned 40,000 cubic meters of capacity at its Sebarok terminal in Singapore for blending biofuels into marine fuels and converted the existing pipeline system to a dedicated biofuel blending service.

Vopak is allocating €1 billion in growth capital to new energies and sustainable feedstocks by 2030. The company claimed its focus is on infrastructure solutions for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, ammonia, CO2, long-duration energy storage and sustainable feedstocks.