PPST Oil Terminal along the river Meuse in Liège invests in safety and environmental protection

Wandre, 09/10/2019 – PPST Oil Terminal installed a new equipment to unload barges: a rigid arm - a first in Wallonia.  This investment enhances the safety of the operators on site and on the barge, as well as the environmental protection of the Meuse.

Thanks to its strategic position on the Meuse, the Terminal (a joint venture between Q8 and EG Group) supplies petroleum products to individuals and petrol stations in the region.  PPST is one of the main fuel Terminals in Wallonia, it is operated by a team of 9 professionals who manage the inflows/outflows of the various products and their safe storage. These petroleum products are now transferred from barges towards the Terminal tanks via the rigid unloading arm recently installed at the berth.

"We have replaced the previous rubber hoses with a modern, state-of-the-art, piece of equipment." explains Sven Dochez, Director Supply and Sustainable Fuels at Q8.  "With this new technology, the equipment is safer and easier to handle. Thus, the risk of a spill in the Meuse is virtually non-existent.  The investment amounts to more than 300.000 euros. »

Highest safety standards

"What makes this type of equipment so unique is that you often see them in large ports, but not on sites along rivers." indicates Olivier Raquet, the Terminal Manager. "This is the first time such an equipment is used in Wallonia.  This investment enables PPST to raise its barge unloading activity to the highest level in terms of safety and respect for the environment.”

The two companies that own the Terminal, Q8 and EG Group, have indicated their intention to continue in this direction. Jurgen Artz, Europe Director for EG Fuel, says:  "Investing in this equipment goes beyond the legal requirements, it is a deliberate choice to invest further in safety and the environment.  We will also focus on the development and distribution of biofuels, thus playing an active role in the energy transition. »

About PPST Terminal

The PPST Oil Terminal (Petroleum Products Storage and Transport) is located in Wandre, Liège, it is a joint venture between Q8 and EG Group (50/50).  It enjoys a strategic position to supply the eastern part of Belgium and Luxembourg. Diesel and Gasolines are stored in the 11 main tanks, as well as biofuels such as Ethanol or FAME (EMAG or biodiesel). The total storage capacity amounts to 17,050 m3, with an annual throughput of 900,000 m3.