Micro-refinery unit soon available in the port of Antwerp

Ecoslops  announced a new step in the establishment of a micro-refinery unit at the site of ATPC, a subsidiary of VTTI group, in the port of Antwerp.  This new unit in, with a minimum capacity to treat 60,000 tonnes per year, is expected to enable the regeneration of collected residues in the ARA zone (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp) by local slops collectors and also to provide ship-owners with a full traceability of their slops disposal.

“The new micro-refinery unit is a next stepping stone for the sustainable vision we have for the port, and is thus a win for several parties”, says Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of the Antwerp Port Authority.

ATPC, a subsidiary of VTTI group, has an industrial unit dedicated to fuel storage and refining in Antwerp. ATPC and ECOSLOPS will exploit all possible industrial synergies between the two companies within the project.

During this phase the parties will work together, with the common objective to facilitate detailed studies (technical, economic, regulatory), and the aim to rapidly file building and operation permits. This phase is expected to result by end 2017.

Currentlty, Ecoslops has a fully operational micro-refinery in the Port of Sines (Portugal) and will soon build and operate another unit in Marseilles La Mède (with TOTAL).

On signing the MOU, Vincent Favier, Chairman and CEO of Ecoslops, said:  “The success of our first industrial unit in Portugal has turned Ecoslops into the genuine leader in its market.

Ecoslops says this agreement with the port to be a ‘key milestone’ for the company in the development of a worldwide network targeting the major routes and international shipping infrastructure. This agreement follows recent announcement of Ecoslops partnership with TOTAL  group in Marseilles, opting for an oil residue waste-processing unit at La Mède.