Kinder plans $41m investment

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners today announced an expansion project and an acquisition that will provide additional infrastructure to help meet the growing need for terminal services along the Gulf Coast.

The combined investment of approximately $41m includes the construction of a terminal that will include liquid storage, transfer and packaging facilities at the Rubicon Plant site in Geismar, Louisiana, and the purchase of a liquids terminal from Royal Vopak in Westwego, also in Louisiana, that has a storage capacity of about 750,000 barrels.

The 173-acre Vopak Terminal Westwego facility KMP acquired has 19 tanks, rail service with 10 railcar spots, a two-bay truck rack and offers dock services to accommodate barges and other vessels. In addition, vegetable oil, biodiesel, ethanol and other liquid products can be stored at the facility. The acquisition is supported by long-term customer commitments.

The new terminal being built at the Rubicon Plant site will be capable of handling inbound and outbound material via pipeline, rail, truck and barge/vessel. In addition, the terminal will offer rail siding for up to 24 cars with expansion capabilities to build tank car loading racks for future transload services. Construction began in March 2007 and is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2008.