Pacific fuel firm sets sights on $30m Timaru port development

A $30 million construction project is set to create a 44-million litre bulk fuel terminal at Timaru's PrimePort.

Environment Canterbury (ECan) has granted resource consent for the fuel store and pipeline to be built at the port for Timaru Oil Services Limited (TOSL). TOSL, created in September last year, was owned by the Pacific Petroleum Company, a fuel supply firm that operated throughout French Polynesia, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

According to the consent application, the proposed "tank farm" development on Fraser St would include the construction of six bulk fuel storage tanks, an office building and truck loading facilities.

The two-stage project would start with the installation of four 8000 cubic metre fuel storage tanks. The second stage would involve building an underground pipeline from the wharf to the tank farm on reclaimed land used primarily for "industrial purposes associated with port activities" and the installation of two more 6000 cubic metre fuel storage tanks.

"We are looking forward to welcoming Timaru Oil Services to our facilities, this investment underlines the strategic importance of Timaru as a major freight and logistics hub for the whole South Island," PrimePort chief executive Phil Melhopt.

Timaru District’s economy is showing confidence, with growth of 2.0% in GDP recorded in the latest figures released for the September 2017 year. Read the full report here.

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