MVO facilitated the visit to make the importance of the oils and fats sector more visible at local level too. During a tour of the terminal, not only the day-to-day operations were discussed, but also developments and challenges facing companies in the sector.

A chain that is becoming ever more complex

The storage of oils and fats has changed significantly over the past decades. Whereas terminals used to focus mainly on a limited number of bulk flows, the number of different products and product flows has now increased substantially. Think of different types of oils and fats, certified flows and raw materials for the production of biodiesel.

Various flows

That diversity also places different demands on storage companies. Different products must be carefully separated from one another, and terminal infrastructure must keep pace with changes in the market. This makes not only the trade in oils and fats more complex, but also the logistics behind it.

Challenges

During the visit, attention was also given to broader challenges. For example, discussions covered pressure on infrastructure, both by road and by water, and the consequences that drought and low water levels can have for the transport of raw materials and products.

A hundred years of innovation

Sustainable energy and safety were also discussed in depth. Vopak continuously invests in the terminal to adapt it to new developments and requirements. This takes place at a site where activities have been ongoing for almost a hundred years. The visit therefore also highlighted the terminal’s long history and the way the company continues to prepare for changes in the market.

A visible sector

For MVO, the visit fits into a broader approach to make the oils and fats chain more visible to administrators and politicians. This happens at European and national level, but also, importantly, at local level. After all, many activities in the sector take place within municipalities and provinces, while it is not always visible what happens behind companies’ gates and what role these companies play in the economy and infrastructure.

MVO therefore wants to organise more work visits together with members in the coming period. This will allow administrators and politicians to become acquainted in practice with the companies, developments and challenges behind the Dutch oils and fats chain. Would you like to take a look at Vopak Vlaardingen yourself? Then watch this video of the work visit.