Permit application under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG)
Mabanaft’s key construction measures include – subject to approval under the BImSchG – - the conversion of the existing Blumensand tank farm, which is wholly owned by Mabanaft’s tank farm division, so that ammonia can also be imported, stored and processed there in future. This would require the demolition of two large mineral oil tanks. The submission of the application for authorisation brings Mabanaft one step closer to realising its ammonia import terminal.
Ammonia import terminal can make a significant contribution to the energy transition
Philipp Kroepels, Director of New Energy at Mabanaft: “With the planned import terminal in the Port of Hamburg, we have the opportunity to implement another part of the energy transition and bring it to Hamburg.” He adds: “With our import terminal, we aim to enable innovative energy solutions such as ammonia for shipping and its further processing into hydrogen.”
Various measures were required prior to the submission of the application documents
As part of the approval process, Mabanaft took part in a so-called scoping meeting with representatives of the authority and other parties in January 2024, at the invitation of BUKEA. The aim of the scoping meeting was to define the scope of the voluntary environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the documents to be submitted to BUKEA. Furthermore, back in the spring and summer of 2023, Mabanaft successfully completed an application conference and a so-called HazID analysis to identify potential nautical risks.
About the planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg
In November 2022, in the presence of Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Dr Robert Habeck and the First Mayor of Hamburg, Dr Peter Tschentscher, Mabanaft announced its intention to construct facilities for the import and handling of ammonia on the site of its Blumensand tank terminal in the Port of Hamburg. As part of the project, Mabanaft would be responsible, amongst other things, for the conversion of the existing jetty, the demolition of two existing large tanks, the construction of a new tank for the storage of ammonia, and the installation of pipework to transport ammonia from the jetty to the ammonia storage tank. The facilities are scheduled to come into operation in 2027, with Mabanaft’s investment running into the hundreds of millions.
The Mabanaft Group is a leading independent and integrated energy company that offers its customers innovative energy solutions in the transport, heating, industrial and agricultural sectors. The Group is active in the import, distribution and marketing of petroleum products, natural gas liquids, chemicals and biofuels, and supports its customers in the transition to cleaner fuels by offering alternative long-term solutions.
Oiltanking Deutschland, the storage division of the Mabanaft Group, has been active in the field of tank storage logistics since 1972 and is one of the largest independent operators of tank storage facilities for oils and biofuels in Germany. The company owns and operates 11 tank farms with a total capacity of 2.375 million cbm.
