The Geneva-headquartered Impala Terminals Group (Impala Terminals), a global infrastructure and logistics company being a joint venture between global commodity company Trafigura and global fund manager IFM Investors, has purchased the HES Hartel Tank Terminal at the Port of Rotterdam following an auction process, with the transaction expected to be completed in the coming days.
The HES Hartel Tank Terminal, providing approximately 1.3 million cubic metres of storage capacity for bulk liquid energy products, will be called Impala Energy Infrastructure Netherlands after the take over.
Construction of this storage and distribution terminal was put on hold in December 2022 following a number of setbacks including the COVID-19 pandemic, other delays and additional costs so in January this year the project owner HES Hartel Tank Terminal B.V. was declared insolvent and an auction process commenced.
Impala Terminals states that part of the purchase agreement, Impala will provide additional investment of between €90-100 million over the next two years to complete the terminal’s construction.
Once operating, the terminal should create up to 70 full time local jobs and it is expected to include over 50 tanks, berths capable of loading up to VLCC-size vessels and nine barge jetties.
Carl Hamm, Curator for the auction process, said that “I am pleased to announce that the sale process for the terminal asset will conclude next week and that Impala Energy Infrastructure Netherlands is the purchaser of the asset. This is a good outcome for all parties involved and most importantly, Impala will make the necessary investment to complete and commission this important asset in the Port of Rotterdam.”
Sjoerd Bazen, chief executive of Impala Energy Infrastructure, said that “This is an excellent development for Impala, particularly as it will provide our strategic customers with a strong and sustainable asset located within the Port of Rotterdam in the major trading hub of ARA. We look forward to developing our business in the region in collaboration with different stakeholders and specifically the Port of Rotterdam Authority.”
Boudewijn Siemons, interim chief executive and COO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, noted that “The Port Authority Rotterdam is pleased that Impala has purchased the terminal asset and that construction work will be completed. With this transaction, the company is making a lasting commitment to the port and is adding a brand-new facility for storing a wide range of bulk liquid energy products. This provides a new future for the terminal after a bankruptcy that has been difficult for all parties concerned, particularly the employees.”
