EnergyAsia, May 25 2011, Wednesday) — Dutch oil and chemical logistics firm Royal Vopak said it and equal joint-venture partner Tianjin Bohai Chemical Industry Group will develop the 240,000-cubic metre second phase of their terminal in China’s Tianjin city to store liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The project includes three low-temperature tanks of 80,000 cbm each to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2013, and a new pipeline connection to the plant of Tianjin Bohua Petrochemical Co Ltd in the fast-developing 80-sq km Lingang Industry Park.

Last June, the partners announced the construction of the 95,300-cubic metre first phase of the Tianjin Lingang storage terminal to store chemicals. The terminal is expected to be commissioned in the third quarter.

Serving as the main logistics gateway to Beijing less than 150 kilometers away, Tianjin is also a leading petrochemical distribution centre in northeastern China.

With these projects in Tianjin along with other investments in China, Vopak expects to increase its storage capacity in the country from 1.2 million cbm now to 1.7 million cbm in 2013.

Vopak, the world’s largest independent tank storage service provider, specialises in the storage and handling of bulk liquid chemicals, gasses and oil products. The company operates 79 terminals with a storage capacity of more than 25 million cubic metres in 30 countries.

With more than 50,000 employees and more than 60 chemical production and logistic facilities, Tianjin Bohai Chemical Industrial Group is one of the largest state-owned chemical enterprises in China.