Australia: Sydney Ports Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Grant Gilfillan, announced Friday that Australian construction firm John Holland had been awarded the construction contract for the new Bulk Liquids Berth 2 project at Port Botany.
"Sydney Ports Corporation has recognised the importance of the bulk liquids trade and the existing Bulk Liquids Berth facility to the NSW [Australian state of New South Wales] economy," Mr Gilfillan said.
"As the NSW economy continues to grow so does the demand for bulk liquids such as refined petroleum products, chemicals and gases for domestic and industrial use.
"That's why Sydney Ports is doubling the port's capacity to handle these products by constructing a second bulk liquids berth (BLB2) at Port Botany.
"The existing Bulk Liquids Berth at Port Botany was constructed in 1979 and is the only one of its kind – an open access, multi user berth for the import and export of chemicals, LPG and refined fuels in NSW.
"This new $80 million facility will ensure that NSW has adequate berth capacity to satisfy future demands for the import and export of bulk liquids," Mr Gilfillan said.
Mr Gilfillan said that continued growth, particularly in the import of refined fuels, had led to the average berth occupancy level at the existing berth frequently exceeding 65 percent over the last four years.
"This project will also help meet the long term demand for products such as jet fuel which is forecast to grow at an average rate of over four percent for the next 20 years.
"As such, the construction of the Bulk Liquids Berth 2 at Port Botany is a key strategy in securing the state's energy supply over the medium to long-term," Mr Gilfillan concluded.
