Construction begins on $930M Mississippi River oil terminal in Louisiana
NOLA Oil Terminal, LLC announced Tuesday that it has started construction on the first phase of its $930 million oil and refined products terminal project on a 158-acre site on the lower Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The finished project will allow river access to larger, modern ships like those classified as New-Panamax and Suezmax.
U.S. ports have undertaken massive construction programs over the last several years to be able to accommodate these bigger ships, which can reach up to 1,300 feet in length and weigh up to 200,000 tons without cargo.
This initial phase of waterside work includes:
- Two deep-water berths capable of mooring 170,000-ton vessels; and
- One barge dock that will serve both inland and oceangoing tank barges.
Once complete, the berths and dock will be able to accommodate six, 1,200-foot tankers per week. When the rest of construction is finished, the terminal will be able to store up to 10 million barrels.
All of the necessary permits are in place, according to NOLA Oil, and site clearing, open channel drainage, construction access roadways, geotechnical investigations, pile load tests and environmental studies are complete. Phase one of the project is expected to be wrap up in mid-2022. Phase two, which includes the landside work, is in the development phase.
The company expects to create more than 1,000 construction jobs during both phases.
Plaquemines Port Dock & Harbor District is helping to support the project with $300 million of bond funding, which the port approved this past summer. This is the largest bond issue that the port has approved in more than 50 years.
"This boost to our economy couldn’t come at a better time, and NOLA Oil Terminal represents the kinds of projects Plaquemines Parish is looking for," said Benny Rouselle, former president of Plaquemines Parish and former chairman of the Port of Plaquemines.
"Not only will this flagship be an economic driver for the Parish, but it will also put us on the map as the first deep water wharf able to accommodate these massive tankers, signaling a bright economic future for Plaquemines Parish.”