Royal Vopak’s new state-of-the-art petroleum storage terminal was officially opened on 15 September in Darwin Northern Territory (Australia) by Clare Martin the Chief Minister of the NT Government. The Vopak Board was represented by Mr Carel van den Driest, Mr. John Paul Broeders and Mr. Frans de Koning. Mr Paul Govaart represented Vopak Asia.

The recently commissioned terminal received its first shipment of product only in the week prior to the opening and customers are already drawing product. The commingled terminal represents the first cooperation between the major oil refiners in an independent terminal in Australia. Its platform has already resulted in an expanded relationship with the Majors at Vopak’s Sydney Site B terminal.

The 11 tank 115.000 cubic metres terminal will supply 750 million litres of fuel for the Northern Territory extending 1,500 klms south to the geographical centre of Australia, Alice Springs. Mining of many minerals including gold, uranium, zinc, lead and silver is a major consumer of diesel product in the Territory. The new terminal also provides the opportunity for the NT government to redevelop land occupied by older terminals in the Darwin City centre.

The government has supported Vopak’s commitment by investing AUD 18 million for a new berth and pipeline system.