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Vopak Horizon Fujairah Ltd - a terminal facility that handles a range of products including fuel oil, crude oil, gas oil, jet fuel, kerosene, naptha, pygas, condensate, mogas, MTBE and ethanol - is this week celebrating the commissioning of the seventh expansion phase, known as 'Project Black Pearl', adding 478,000 cubic metres (cbm) of crude oil storage capacity to increase the facility's total capacity to 2.6 million cbm.

The new capacity looks set to lead to have a positive impact on bunker volumes and vessel calls at Fujairah. It is the first crude oil capacity in the Middle East for independent storage purposes with open access and very large crude carrier (VLCC) access. With a total storage capacity of 2.6 million cbm, Vopak Horizon Fujairah is one of the largest independent oil storage terminals in the world.

The expansion features five storage tanks, one manifold and a pipeline connection to the VLCC jetty as well as to other jetties in the Port of Fujairah. All crude oil handled in the new tanks will be loaded and discharged through the jetties of the Port of Fujairah. The Port of Fujairah opened a new VLCC jetty in September 2016. Vopak Horizon Fujairah is the launching customer for this new jetty.

Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC, said: "The latest expansion of Vopak Horizon Fujairah strengthens the emirate as one of the world's leading hubs for crude oil and oil products. I especially thank the Government of Fujairah for their continued and ongoing support to the venture. Our continuous partnership with the Government reflects our national prerogative to champion the cause of the country's potential and its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship which enhances the Emirate's status as a premier hub for imports and exports.

"Fujairah will further boost its influence as an oil-trading hub with the addition of the region's first crude-shipment jetty and expanded storage facilities. Vopak Horizon Fujairah will be an integral part of that growth over the next few years," added Al Falasi.

Eelco Hoekstra, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Royal Vopak, commented: "We congratulate the team of Vopak Horizon Fujairah, our strategic partners and the Port of Fujairah, for successfully and safely completing this major expansion project. Another safety milestone to be proud of. We are very excited that, with this open access crude oil capacity, we are together laying the foundation for Fujairah to also become a trading hub for crude oil in the important Gulf Region."