TEPSA approves €18.3 million to expand chemical terminal with eight new tanks
The TEPSA Tarragona terminal expansion is moving forward with the approval of the final investment decision (FID) to build eight new storage tanks, a project valued at €18.3 million that will increase the operational capacity of the port’s chemical terminal.
The approval of the FID marks the financial point of no return for the project: engineering studies, construction contracts, and financing commitments are formalized as of this decision. The completion of the works is scheduled for July 2028.
TEPSA Tarragona terminal expansion drives new capacity
The eight tanks in Tank Pit 10 will be designed for the storage of specialty chemicals and raw materials linked to the biofuel chain. This focus responds to the growing demand for logistics infrastructure for low-carbon footprint supplies in the Mediterranean arc.
Tarragona concentrates one of the largest petrochemical hubs in the Western Mediterranean. Its port manages import and export flows of chemicals, plastics, and fuels that connect refineries and process plants with European and North African markets. The TEPSA expansion reinforces the terminal’s position within that regional energy infrastructure.
Operational context and integrity standards
A project of this type involves not only civil works but also strict asset integrity protocols from the commissioning phase. Tanks for specialty chemicals require high chemical resistance coatings, leak detection systems, and periodic inspection plans that comply with European regulations such as the Seveso III Directive.
“Storage terminals operating in petrochemical port environments like Tarragona face more demanding design and maintenance requirements than conventional product facilities, given that the inventory of hazardous substances requires a higher level of redundancy in containment systems,” notes Tank Storage Magazine in its analysis of the sector’s expansion in Southern Europe.
From the perspective of logistics operators, the capacity expansion in Tarragona responds to a structural deficit. “The demand for storage of raw materials for advanced biofuels in the Mediterranean exceeds the available supply of certified tanks, creating bottlenecks in the supply chains of HVO and SAF producers,” noted a recent analysis published by the sector on the evolution of the petrochemical industry in Southern Europe.
Financial projection and TEPSA positioning
TEPSA operates liquid bulk storage terminals in Spain, with a presence in Barcelona, Tarragona, and other strategic port nodes. The group positions itself as an independent third-party terminal operator, meaning its capacity is available to multiple shippers without exclusive ties to any producer or refiner.
With an investment of €18.3 million distributed over approximately 24 months of construction, the unit cost per m³ of new capacity is around €860/m³, a parameter consistent with European benchmarks for stainless steel tanks intended for high-specification chemicals.
The investment decision occurs in a context of a general review of the storage chain in Europe, driven by the energy transition, new mandates for the incorporation of biofuels in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), and the growth of specialty chemical trade in the Mediterranean.
The TEPSA Tarragona terminal expansion also responds to the growing need for flexible infrastructure for the storage of high-specification chemicals and new sustainable fuels. As Europe moves forward in the decarbonization of transport and industry, port terminals with the capacity to manage multiple types of products become strategic assets to ensure the continuity of supply chains and facilitate international trade in energy raw materials.
Sources: TEPSA — Tank Storage Magazine — LinkedIn TEPSA
