Port of Amsterdam becomes increasingly greener thanks to construction of biodiesel plant

J&S Bio Energy BV(part of the oil and gas company Mercuria Energy Group) has concluded contracts with the Oiltanking Terminal in Amsterdam for the construction of a biodiesel plant in the Port of Amsterdam. The new production facility will put out 200,000 metric tons of biodiesel a year. The total investment is estimated to be €42.5 million. The plant will be on line in the summer of 2008, creating about 30 jobs and a great deal of indirect employment.

The plant will be built at a new site used by Oiltanking Amsterdam  at the Amerikahaven. Specifically for the new plant, Oiltanking will create additional tank capacity to be used for the storage of vegetable oil and biodiesel.

The Port of Amsterdam will build roads and carry out dredging work to ensure good access to the location, which will boast two new jetties to be built by Oiltanking for handling sea ships.

Hans Gerson, Managing Director of the Port of Amsterdam, is delighted at this new step toward becoming a green port. The plant and the tank-storage facilities will incorporate cutting-edge technology, and its products will help cut back CO2 emissions.

Ton Klomp, Managing Director of Mercuria Energy Holding BV, believes that biodiesel will play a major role in Europe's energy supplies and expresses great confidence in the capabilities of Oiltanking.

Coenraad Hübner, Managing Director of Oiltanking Amsterdam BV, is particularly pleased with Mercuria's decision to choose Amsterdam as its new location. The Port of Amsterdam is ideally suited for supplying sea-going ships and inland- waterway barges with biodiesel.

With the construction of the green biofuels-producing plant, the Port of Amsterdam is further strengthening its very strong credentials as an environmentally friendly port. Earlier developments relating to green fuels concerned Greenmills and Harvest Biofuels.

More information?

Ab van der Neut, Communications Department of the Port of Amsterdam

Tel: +31 (0)20 5234875 or +31 (0)6 51171291