Evos Rotterdam has started the execution of an expansion project for its facilities aimed at the storage of methanol and ethanol, including the low carbon intensity variants of both products, after holding a signing ceremony at the Port of Rotterdam. The event was attended by Daan Vos, CEO of Evos, and Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port Authority of Rotterdam, in what both parties have described as a significant milestone in the collaboration between the storage terminal operator and the authority of the largest port in Europe.
The project includes the construction of five new storage tanks with a combined gross capacity of 67,500 cubic meters, a new pumping station, and a new docking pier, the construction of which will be carried out by the Port Authority of Rotterdam. The commissioning of the new infrastructure is expected to take place in early 2028. With this expansion, Evos Rotterdam will be able to increase its capacity for receiving, storing, and dispatching methanol and ethanol, serving both traditional industrial markets for these products and the growing demand for alternative marine fuels with a lower carbon footprint for bunkering operations.
The demand for methanol in the traditional chemical markets of Europe remains strong, with formaldehyde production as the main destination for continental consumption. At the same time, Europe is moving towards greater use of low carbon intensity methanol, with biomethanol and e-methanol expected to gain a progressively larger share in the consumption mix. The demand for low-emission methanol as a maritime fuel is expected to accelerate starting from the early years of the 2030s, driven by environmental regulations affecting maritime transport. In parallel, the European Union's decarbonization targets will also stimulate imports of ethanol to the continent, driven by the increasing use of renewable ethanol in road transport fuels and the expanding production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from alcoholic feedstocks.
Daan Vos has pointed out that this is a strategic investment that consolidates the role of the Rotterdam terminal of Evos as a reference center for methanol and ethanol, while preparing the company's infrastructure for the rapid scaling of low-carbon marine fuels in the coming years. The CEO of Evos has indicated that the company's strategy is based on long-term transition partnerships aimed at shared progress, and that the development of this project in close collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam allows the company to anticipate the needs of its clients from both the industrial and shipping sectors as the energy transition accelerates.
For his part, Boudewijn Siemons has evaluated Evos' investment as a significant step towards the sustainability of the port. The head of the Port Authority of Rotterdam has explained that, through the investment in the construction of the new dock and the quay wall, the Port of Rotterdam is creating essential infrastructure to enable the safe and efficient handling of cleaner fuels, such as methanol. Siemons has added that this collaboration strengthens the shared commitment to supporting the energy transition and ensures that the port remains prepared for the future, in line with its ambitions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Evos is an independent operator of liquid product storage terminals with a presence in several European ports, including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, and Algeciras. In recent years, the company has directed a significant part of its strategy towards adapting its facilities for the storage of products linked to the energy transition, including low carbon intensity fuels, biofuels, and raw materials for sustainable chemical industry. Its terminal in Rotterdam constitutes one of the largest independent storage facilities in the Dutch port, and its expansion will allow it to position itself as a reference player in the logistics chain of methanol and ethanol in Northwestern Europe.