16 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Flexitanks & Bulk Liners November / December 2017
16 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Flexitanks & Bulk Liners November / December 2017
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It has been a busy few months for fast-growing Cyprusbased firm BeFlexi . Late September , BeFlexi opened the doors to its 20th country of operations , Estonia . Together with global partner , verification company SGS , the first joint flexitank installation and cargo loading took place in Tallinn . Valery Marmysh , SGS oil , gas & chemicals Baltic regional manager , said the firm also provided training to the local SGS Estonia team on the safety and quality standards and procedures to be adhered to during a flexitank installation . All local teams in new locations are provided with training materials . Estonia is the world ’ s 74th largest export country and the Port of Tallinn is the biggest port authority on the Baltic Sea . In 2016 , it saw 20.1 million tons of cargo and 202,327 TEU . Prior to setting up in the Baltic state BeFlexi increased its presence in Ukraine . With a claimed 280 percent growth in the use of flexitanks in the country over the past two years ( albeit from a negligible base ), BeFlexi founder Sergey Galin was invited to speak at an international exhibition on transport and logistics , Trans Expo Odessa 2017 . The company ’ s Ukrainian country leader Angelina Shepikto said : “ Flexitank lends themselves well to the ambitions of our shipping industry . Ukraine has great plans for the future . For instance , in June
2017 , the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority ( USPA ) announced plans to allocate UAH3.9 billion (€ 125 million ) to finance infrastructure projects in the maritime sector during 2017 . Also , the structure of Ukraine ’ s exports has shown an increase in transhipment of agrosector products .” This comprises grains — 19.6 million tons (+ 20 percent ) and vegetable oils — 2.9 million tons (+ 33.8 percent ). Neighbouring Russia is also a big target market for the company . The country is one of the largest exporters of sunflower oil , and big container ports in Saint Petersburg and Novorossiysk also make it a highly strategic region . Operations have kicked off with the first flexitank installation in Koper , Slovenia . The partners provided training to the local SGS Slovenia team on the safety , quality standards and procedures that are to be adhered to during a flexitank installation . The installation was completed under the supervision of Matej Babic , senior inspector – technical supervisor at SGS OGC in Koper . He said : “ We completed successfully our first three flexitank installations without encountering any substantial difficulties .” Finally , BeFlexi has expanded into the Africa market . It set up operations in Tunisia , marking not only the first venture onto African soil , but also the fifth continent where it operates .
BeFlexi and SGS performing the flexitank installation in Tallinn , Estonia
Oman ’ s acid test
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Sebacic Oman is reportedly to start exporting sebacic acid from its US $ 62 million plant in Duqm , Oman from next year . An unusual factor is that the company plans to use flexitanks for shipment of the acid in its powder form . However , few details have yet emerged as to exactly how this will be managed . Sebacic acid is a derivative of castor oil . It is formally classed as non-hazardous , though in its powdered form it can be prone to flash ignition ( a typical risk in handling fine organic powders ). It is used in the manufacture of biodegradable packaging for which demand is growing , as well as making lubricants , paints and cosmetics . CEO Pradeep Nair said that in Italy garbage bags were fully biodegradable and could be put straight into compost plant . The acid will be filled into the flexitanks and exported from Port of Duqm , a relatively new port set up by a joint venture between the Omani Government and Consortium Antwerp Port . Sebacic Oman , itself a joint venture between its Indian parent company and local Omani interests , plans to export about 30,000 tonnes a year of the product . The local plant is due to become operational by the end of this year . Other byproducts of the plant such as glycerine , plasticisers and mixed fatty acid would also be carried in flexitanks and exported . The next phase envisages a $ 250 million investment for producing Nylon 6,10 . The third phase , Nair said would take place after an Initial Public Offering in 2024 and would entail an investment of $ 450 million in a project whose products would include , esters , lubricants and biodegradable polymers . The castor oil will initially be imported from India . The 30,000 tonnes a year of acid plant would require 60,000 tonnes a year of castor oil which can be derived from 140,000 tonnes of castor seeds , said Nair . Thus , the company is in discussions with land owners in Oman who could grow the castor plant as part of contract farming agreements .
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Sebacic acid is a derivative of castor oil used in the manufacture of biodegradable packaging