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Reducing the environmental impact of Europe's main
energy hub in a growing and rapidly globalizing
economy is no easy task, but The Port of Rotterdam is
up to the challenge. Rotterdam's leading position as
Europe's biggest port and the important role it plays in
transport worldwide are mainly due to its central
position in the global petrochemicals trade. The
introduction of the term 'Rotterdam Energy Port' as a
marketing tool marks a new leap forward for the
promotion of Rotterdam in this role. The energy market
will change rapidly over the course of the following
years. Rotterdam will be at the forefront as these new
developments unfold. The use of biofuels will rapidly
increase, a trend driven by societal developments and
new legislation. Rotterdam is home to a pioneer in the
biofuel businesses: Argos Oil's Peter Goedvolk,
honoured as the port's Man of the Year in 2006.
The GATE terminal proposal
Argos Oil will be producing 250,000 tons of biodiesel
by 2008. Goedvolk is amongst those responsible for
an investment of 45 million euros in a biodiesel plant
to be built alongside Argos' terminal, located in the
Second Petroleumhaven in Pernis. In 2006 Argos Oil
and the Municipality of Rotterdam introduced the
Netherlands' first fully-fledged biofuel, a mixture
consisting of 85 percent bioethanol. Argos has been
trading petrol supplemented with five percent
bioethanol through ten gas stations for some
time now.
At the end of 2007 the Spanish company Abengoa
Bioenergia will have began constructing a bioethanol
plant with a total production capacity of 480,000 tons
in the Europoort area. Abengoa is Europe's largest
producer of bioethanol, boasting three production
plants with a joint production capacity of 500 million
litres. The Rotterdam plant will double the company's
output, and it to be one of the largest of its kind.
The fact that Rotterdam plays and will continue to play
a leading role in the production of bioethanol is not the
only reason Rotterdam will remain Europe's main
energy hub. In 2007 it was decided that two
LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) terminals would be
constructed in the port in the near future. They will
store natural gas in a liquefied state by cooling it to
162 degrees Celsius below the freezing point. By
liquefying natural gas, its volume is reduced 600-fold.
Main exporters of natural gas are Qatar, Algeria, Libya,
Nigeria and Malaysia. A large LNG-carrier
measuring 350 metres in length, carrying
150 million cubic metres of liquefied gas,
will dock in the Port of Rotterdam on a daily
basis. Plans exist to construct two terminals
in the coming years. A decision on whether or
not to invest in these facilities will be made
shortly. These terminals are to be constructed
just off the main waterway leading to the Maasvlakte along the
Beerkanaal. If the project proceeds, Vopak and
Gasunie will invest 400 million euros in a main access
terminal for liquid gas situated on the Maasvlakte
(at a location known as the Parrot Beak). This terminal
has been dubbed GATE (Gas Access To Europe) and
plans are to have it operational by 2010, at which time
Rotterdam will be distributing 17 billion cubic metres
of natural gas annually. This would be a considerable
fraction of the total Dutch natural gas market, which
amounts to 90 billion cubic metres on an annual
basis, half of which is consumed locally, the other
half exported.
The construction of these two terminals in Europoort
will attract other industries to the area as well. In
addition, environmental interests are served by the
further facilitation of LNG industries, as they are by the
construction of infrastructure for the bioethanol and
biodiesel industries. These green industries are a sure
fire bet for growth in the future.
Natural gas is a clean fuel with a relatively minor
environmental impact. As an added advantage, the
import of natural gas through the port of Rotterdam
will lessen Western Europe's dependency on Russia
for gas supply. This is not to say that fuels from Russia
do not pass through Rotterdam.
For example, forty million tons of fuel oil are imported
from Russia annually, most of which passes on to
other ports. Of course fuel oil is not a particularly clean
source of energy. Seagoing vessels rely on it for
propulsion but are required to switch to cleaner diesel
fuel, before entering port more and more often to
safeguard the air quality in port.
Coal remains a popular source of energy, especially for
the generation of electricity in power plants.
Rotterdam alone will see the construction of two coalfuelled
power plants soon. These plants will be
required to take countermeasures to compensate the
harmful side effects of coal combustion. Rotterdam
has been an important port for the coal trade, but its
share in this market will increase even further in the
future. In Germany, the closing of coal mines will lead
to increased demand for imported coal by power
plants and steel mills. Rotterdam is ideally poised to
serve this growing market.
One of the largest drawbacks of coal combustion is the
carbon dioxide emissions it generates. These
emissions have created market opportunities as well.
Carbon dioxide can be used as a resource for industry.
It is not poisonous, even though a high atmospheric
concentration of it can lead to undesirable
environmental effects. The Rotterdam based
petrochemical industry has developed technology
enabling transport of carbon dioxide to greenhouses
in Westland, where it is used as a fertilizer. The storage
of carbon monoxide in depleted gas reserves off the
coast is an option that is under discussion at the
moment. This is a rather expensive solution though.
One thing is certain: this is yet another development in
which Rotterdam is leading the way.
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