Letter from Spain: Hydrocarbons are the present and future of tank storage
Scepticism towards the energy transition reigns in the tank storage industry
Cartagena is the fourth-largest port in Spain by weight of goods handled, with around 36mt/yr in 2022. But it specialises in liquid bulk, with more of the stuff moving through the port than anywhere else in Spain. Three-quarters of the cargo handled at the port is liquid bulk. Hence the port serving as the backdrop for the Petrochemicals Global Logistics Convention, where operators and contractors in tank storage meet to do business and discuss the state of the industry. The conclusion this year is that times are good but uncertain. The geopolitical environment has changed significantly over the last two years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to more goods being moved by
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation






