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