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Russia’s Petersburg Oil Terminal has said that it is planning to expand its capacity further in order to bring annual throughput of its terminal complex to 15 million tonnes.

The planned construction project would be the last phase of Petersburg Oil Terminal's four-stage plan, which has so far cost a total of US$ 130 million.

The facility operates the largest Russian terminal for oil products in the Baltic Sea region, providing the transshipment and storage of oil products for export, as well as bunkering.

The modern shore tanks of the terminal have a capacity of 354 000 m3 and can store a wide variety of oil products, including high viscosity fuel oil. There is no requirement for a clear-cut division into dirty and clean shore tanks - the tanks are general purpose and can be switched from one type of oil product to another at short notice. Oil products are delivered to the terminal by rail, pipeline and by water. Loading is to sea vessels and road transport.

Petersburg Oil Terminal also conducts quality analysis of oil products, and accepts and treats slops discharged from vessels calling at the Port of St. Petersburg.

Last year, the terminal transshipped 11.8 million tonnes of oil products. The figure was 300,000 tonnes higher than in 2007 and included 8.4 million tonnes of dirty oil products.

Commenting on the last phase of the project, Petersburg Oil Terminal said "The expansion of POT is one of the most significant and promising projects in the City. The social significance of the project lies in the strengthening of St. Petersburg's status as the "Sea Gates" of the Russia and status of the country as a sea power. It will also make a positive impact upon the economy of both St. Petersburg and the North West region."

"The activities of JSC Petersburg Oil Terminal make an important contribution to one of the fundamental branches of the country's economy - the export of oil products," the terminal operator said.

Once the final phase of the project is completed, the annual throughput capacity of the facility is expected to rise by around 25 percent to 15 million tonnes of oil products. The total cost of the construction project will be approximately US$ 160 million.