Pipeline

A Vision for Pipelines

New pipeline connections as a precondition for a competitive and sustainable chemical industry in the trilateral region

The competitiveness of and, thus, the jobs in the trilateral chemical industry cluster depend on getting the raw materials efficiently to the production sites and getting out the products efficiently mostly via the seaports to the customers worldwide. 


A well-developed pipeline network is a crucial component in this transport infrastructure system. 


Within the framework of the trilateral strategy process, a working group on pipelines consisting of pipeline experts from companies of all three regions identified two driving forces behind the need for an improved transport by pipelines in the trilateral region. Firstly, pipelines contribute to a secure and reliable supply of resources in times of insufficient rail freight capacities and seasonal waterway transport limitations (Rhine low water level). This is essential for the long-term competitiveness of the chemical industry in Flanders, the Netherlands and North-Rhine Westphalia. Secondly, the sustainable transport mode ‘pipeline’ serves the need to drastically reduce carbon emissions as the industry’s contribution to the commitment made in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.


There already is a valuable existing pipeline network in the trilateral region. However, a significant west-east gap exists that currently prevents the exploitation of the full potential of the network and that is a clear threat to the future competitiveness of the chemical industry in the trilateral region. 


The working group on pipelines carried out a survey amongst its members on future needs for pipeline transport between the Rhine-Ruhr and the ARA region thus allowing to give a concrete indication on specific materials to be transported. Based on the results the working group produced a position paper specifying cornerstones of a vision for pipelines in the trilateral region (such as the reduction of project realization times and an early inclusion of the public and the full recognition of pipelines as a transport mode in the TEN-T network). 


Facilitated by the joint work in the working group on pipelines a core group of companies currently is sounding out the prospect for a letter of intent for a common project for several product streams. 

News:

27 July 2022:


 Mission accomplished …but still a lot to do

Trilateral cooperation paves way for cross-border pipeline projects / High relevance for achieving the climate goals


In 2020 eight leading chemical companies and the two major ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam signed a letter of intent (LoI) on laying the fundament for improved future pipeline connections in the trilateral region of Flanders, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia.
 

After two years of intense collaboration between the LoI companies, sector federations and with the ministries as essential dialogue partners it is time to summarize. The “Trilateral Chemical Region Initiative” has completed a number of tasks and developed joint positions. One of these tasks was to build the groundwork for concrete pipeline projects. These business-driven projects now benefit from the feasibility assessments of the trilateral initiative.

All actions completed


The companies (1) conducted several surveys to assess the products for pipeline transport. The chemical products of Propylene and LPG – in the future on the basis of biogen or circular sources – were identified as important to secure the supply for the chemical industry locations in the region. In addition, it became clear that there is a high political interest in a CO2 and H2 infrastructure in order to enable the transformation towards climate neutrality. Especially with regard to the latter, (2) essential links were established of the trilateral initiative with transmission system operators and the steel industry. With major support of the three governments (3) potential pipeline corridors have been defined and the companies (4) conducted business case calculations. Finally, the LoI partners (5) proposed an organizational structure that would allow for a robust coordination of different pipeline projects in the trilateral region using the structures established by the “Trilateral Chemical Region Initiative”.


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5 May 2021: North Rhine-Westphalia, Flanders and the Netherlands sign joint declaration of intent on the development of the pipeline network in the trilateral region

The trilateral region (Netherlands, Flanders, North Rhine-Westphalia) is one of the most important chemical regions in the world and, with its innovative products and processes, is a growth engine for numerous branches of the economy. In order to further expand the cross-border pipeline infrastructure, the three responsible ministers of the chemical cluster – Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, Zuhal Demir and Bas van‘t Wout – signed a joint declaration of intent. The ministers are thus supporting a pipeline initiative by eight leading chemical companies and the two seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, with which the Rhine-Ruhr region is to be connected to the Belgian-Dutch coast.

NRW Economics and Energy Minister Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart: “Pipelines are the lifelines of the chemical industry and essential for a clean, safe and reliable supply of raw materials. With our cooperation in the trilateral chemical cluster, we are setting the course for a greenhouse gas-neutral industry and we are taking another step closer to our climate goals."

In the joint declaration, the governments agree on concrete measures and show a way in which they want to support the further development of the infrastructure. This includes the establishment of a task force in which the experts from the ministries can exchange ideas, for example, on issues relating to the respective planning and approval procedures. The aim is to achieve a higher degree of planning security, especially for complex cross-border projects.

Michel Wintraecken, Chairman of the company initiative and Director Supply Chain Liquids Europe at the participating company SABIC: “Pipelines are crucial components for the chemical industry in the trilateral region. As part of the Trilog project, we are working together as leading petrochemical companies and supported by the two ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam on the development of a trilateral pipeline network. Such a pipeline network supports the industry in remaining globally competitive and enables the industry to make progress in the energy transition. " 

24 January 2020: Ten leading players sign agreement on pipeline development in the trilateral region

Eight global chemical companies and two major European ports agreed on a Letter of Intent (LoI) on future pipeline infrastructure in the trilateral region. The group of LoI parties will be coordinated by Erik Kessels, Sabic, and Daniela Kampmann, BP Europe SE, as chair and co-chair. 
„Pipelines are crucial components in the trilateral chemical industry,“ said Erik Kessels, Director Supply Chain Liquids Europe at Sabic. „They are essential for a clean, safe and reliable supply to production sites and, thus, key elements for a competitive and sustainable chemical industry in Flanders, the Netherlands and North Rhine Westphalia“. 


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