A biofuel logistics chain is ramping up capacity along the Seine Axis, according to HAROPA Port, as companies further expand their various sustainability efforts.

New flows there are being managed by petroleum products management company, SOGEPP (Société de Gestion de Produits Pétroliers), which is making use of multimodality to provide a competitive, decarbonised solution for carrying energy products which have until now mainly been transported by road.

In a statement, HAROPA said the development of ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is the focus of keen expectation for the contribution it can make to decarbonising manufacturing and transport activities.

It added that SOGEPP operates a storage depot for liquid energy products on six hectares in Gennevilliers' port area and is an important link in the Greater Paris fuel distribution chain.

SOGEPP's site at Gennevilliers, according to HAROPA, is the first Paris area depot to invest in river logistics for the development of biobased, sustainable liquid energy products — and distributes mainly to service stations in Greater Paris and neighbouring regions.

HAROPA noted that this strategic choice is very much in line with the energy transition that has now begun along the Seine Axis as a whole.

Transhipment facility by HAROPA

"SOGEPP approached HAROPA PORT with a view to giving a renewed boost to river traffic to and from its facilities in Gennevilliers," HAROPA said in the announcement.

"The goal is to develop this traffic between Normandy's seaports and the Paris area. Petroleum products that cannot be sent via oil pipelines (such as ethanol and biodiesel) can be carried on the river," the fifth largest north-European port added.

HAROPA's Paris office proposed to the firm that it would build a transhipment facility as a practical solution for the desired traffic.

The port noted that this facility was delivered by HAROPA PORT in June 2022 — and by the end of 2022, SOGEPP was able to obtain its regulatory permits and set up transhipment infrastructure on the jetty for discharging and loading liquid energy products.

Meanwhile, it added that the operating permit for the jetty and the commissioning of the tanks to hold massive quantities of ethanol were obtained in November 2022 after the completion of the work for the petroleum product installations.

"This project by SOGEPP embodies an approach that is virtuous from two standpoints. The first is that it aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Gennevilliers supply flows," HAROPA said.

It added that the second relates to SOGEPP's intention to develop further biobased energy products such as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). SOGEPP is also seeking to develop B100, a biofuel 100% composed of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME).

HAROPA said this river logistics project had received funding from France's Waterways Authority (VNF) for the modernisation of the barge discharging installations, and it was tasked to manage the construction of the required river infrastructure.

The port provided €1.1 million (US$1.16 million) in funding to build the jetty and €2.65 million (US$2.79 million) for modification of the riverbanks in its vicinity.

HAROPA said the SOGEPP depot received its first barge carrying ethanol on January 16, and since then, barges have been calling the facility on a regular basis.

"The prospects for growth in ethanol traffic in the Greater Paris area appear to be bright. This is notably so because of a 'catch-up' effect in the region, which has been lagging with regard to this energy product compared with other regions," the statement added.

SOGEPP estimates the possibility that additional maritime flows of this product can be captured from Northern European ports — replacing traffic that currently goes by road.

SOGEPP is setting out to achieve a position as a hub for such flows going to the Paris area, targeting 12,000 tonnes this year and 20,000 tonnes annually in the coming years. 

Ultimately, SOGEPP will be proposing a biofuel service offering that could also generate maritime flows estimated at some 18,000 tonnes a year.

HAROPA noted that a river barge carrying ethanol — operated by riverboat line SOGESTRAN — discharged its load on February 17 at the river terminal of SOGEPP's depot at the port of Gennevilliers.

The barge was delivering ethanol transhipped on board from a seagoing vessel at Le Havre.