Interconnections

Rotterdam is home to many companies that focus on oil and chemicals. These companies actively use pipelines for large-scale point-to-point transport.
As part of the transit and distribution function of the port, Rotterdam’s pipeline network is aimed at both the transport between companies in the port and the transport to companies in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Each year, some 60 million tonnes of various oil and chemical products pass through the pipeline network. The main products being transported are crude oil and (semi) finished products such as naphtha, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas and ethylene.

In addition to the private network owned by commercial companies, the port of Rotterdam is also investing in pipeline systems. In 2003, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, RC2 and MultiCore initiated two initiatives in this field. With these ventures and other future pipeline initiatives, the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to make the port an even more attractive location for new investments in the chemicals sector.

RC2
RC2 C.V. is a 50:50 joint venture company of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Aethylen-Rohrleitungs-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (ARG). ARG is manager of a 490 km common carrier pipeline system for transport of ethylene in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium. ARG is owned by the chemical companies BASF, Bayer, BP, Degussa, Sabic and Sasol.

Common Carrier
RC2 commercially operates a common carrier pipeline system for transport of ethylene between Antwerp and Rotterdam, the two largest port and industrial complexes in Europe. Common carrier means that, within the available pipeline capacity, any consumer, producer or third party can contract transport of ethylene with RC2 at a standard product specification, general transport conditions and a public tariff system.
More information on RC2

MultiCore
MultiCore C.V. is a joint venture company of Port of Rotterdam Authority and Vopak Chemicals Logistics Europe & Africa B.V.MultiCore commercially operates an underground distribution system for the chemical and gas industry consisting of a pipeline bundle through the port of Rotterdam. The pipelines in the bundle are designed for transport and distribution of chemicals and gasses between companies in the port area.