Continuing its strategy to become a provider of integrated logistic solutions, Ultracargo, Brazil’s largest independent bulk liquid storage company, has begun construction of the liquid bulk terminal in Palmeirante (TO). Excavations for the construction of the first tank started in January, and the forecast is to complete the assembly of the entire structure by September.
There will be 13 tanks, with 12 of them for storing products such as gasoline, diesel, and ethanol, and the 13th for water storage, which will be part of the fire fighting system of the unit. The tanks will feature a modern security system, with containment dikes against leaks and activation of foam generating liquid in case of fire or flames. The Products Transfer Center (CETRAN) will not have hoses, reducing the risk of accidents and providing better ergonomics for the operators who will work at the terminal in the future.
It is estimated that up to 400 people will be involved in the project, including local workers and specialized professionals in complex operations who will come from other regions of Brazil. Hiring will be carried out by third-party companies responsible for different phases of the project. Following the protocol applied in the construction of the Vila do Conde terminal (PA), there will be a focus on sustainability, with water reuse in conducting hydrostatic tests, and proper disposal of waste in accordance with legislation.
The Palmeirante Terminal will receive and dispatch products by road and rail, connecting through the VLI network to the Port of Itaqui (MA), where Ultracargo has a terminal that it intends to expand. Once inaugurated, the new unit will facilitate the arrival of fuels in the interior of Maranhão, Tocantins, Pará, and Mato Grosso.
“By building another terminal, we are continuing the strategy of transforming Ultracargo into a company of integrated logistic solutions, connecting the Brazilian coast to the interior of the country. The rail connection will ensure more safety and sustainability in the transportation of bulk liquids and is in line with our expectation to offer more efficient options to our clients,” says Ultracargo’s Executive Director of Operations and Engineering, Leopoldo Gimenes.
The new terminal will have a tank capacity of 23,000 m³. Operations are expected to start in early 2025. Currently, Ultracargo operates terminals in Rondonópolis (MT) and at the ports of Santos (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Aratu (BA), Suape (PE), Itaqui (MA), and Vila do Conde (PA). The company has also acquired 50% of Opla, an ethanol terminal located in Paulínia (SP). The company’s storage capacity exceeds 1 million cubic meters.