New pipelines to future-proof tank facilities at Nordjyllandsværket

Port of Aalborg has just laid two new pipelines at Nordjyllandsværket. The new pipelines are part of a major renovation of the oil terminal's four tanks, which are currently used for storage of marine fuel, but which are now also ready for storage of more different products in the future.

Back in 2015, Port of Aalborg took over the oil storage facility at Nordjyllandsværket, which is no longer used for the plant's operations. The oil storage facility consists of four 55,000 cubic meter tanks, which until then had been inactive for more than 15 years. Since then, the port has been busy renovating and upgrading the tanks in order to resume and future-proof operations.

In this context, the Port of Aalborg has just constructed two new pipelines connecting the western end of the area's port facilities with the tank farm.

- Until now, we have had an agreement with Aalborg Forsyning on access to a more than one kilometer long pumping pipeline that runs under Aalborg Forsyning's area. But as Aalborg Forsyning is in the middle of a green conversion of Nordjyllandsværket, which among other things involves major demolition work, this would no longer be possible in the near future, says harbor master Claus Rosenbeck and continues

- With the new pipelines, our customers can now moor at the western end of the port facilities and from here be connected to the tank facility. In this connection, we have also invested in an upgrade of some 20-ton bollards so that they can now handle 60 tons of bollard pull, and in a brand new storm bollard that can handle 100 tons, which will ensure that we can also handle the very large ships along the quay.

Ready for the fuel of the future
The renovation of the tank facility in recent years has led to the Port of Aalborg currently having lease agreements for all four tanks. Today, the tanks are used for storage of marine fuel, but in principle, the four tanks can store different products, which is precisely why Port of Aalborg has chosen to invest in two pipelines instead of just one as before:

- Initially, both pipelines will be used to transport marine fuel, but by having two pipelines, we now have the opportunity to handle different products that do not tolerate mixing. This helps to future-proof the tank facility so that we can, among other things, keep up with developments in shipping, where more and more different climate-friendly alternatives are being developed, says Commercial Manager, Michael Rosenkilde Lind.

In addition to the North Jutland Power Station, Port of Aalborg also operates an oil terminal on the southern part of the fjord at Rørdalsvej.