Posted on December 8, 2021
NOLA Oil Terminal LLC reports that it has begun construction on Phase 1 of an oil and refined products terminal project in Plaquemines Parish, La., occupying 158 acres located at Mile 59 on the Lower Mississippi River. The terminal will be the first of its kind in the region, allowing Mississippi River access for much larger New-Panamax and Suezmax-sized vessels.
The initial water-side phase of the project includes two deep-water berths for these tankers and one barge dock. The two tanker berths will be capable of mooring 170,000 dwt vessels. The barge dock will serve both inland and oceangoing tank barges. Land-side construction constitutes the second phase of the project.
Largest Bond Issue Approved by Port
The $300 million wharf and dock bond funding for the project was approved in summer 2021 and marks the largest bond issue approved by the Port of Plaquemines in over 50 years. Overall, NOLA Oil Terminal in total is a $930 million dollar project.
NOLA Oil Terminal was founded in 2013 by two entrepreneurs: COO Christian Amedee and Principal Engineer Roy Carubba, PE.
“Crude oil and clean petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel are significant trade products for Louisiana, but we aren’t able to take advantage of the larger vessels,” says Amedee. “That changes today. This terminal will be the first in the area to be able to accommodate vessels which currently are too large and deep to dock in the Mississippi River or in most Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Seaboard ports. The positive impact on Louisiana’s economy will be immense.”
Creating Jobs in Plaquemines
In addition to opening new channels to import and export crude oil and other clean petroleum products, NOLA Oil Terminal expects to create over 1,000 construction jobs through completion of phases one and two. Additionally, the completed terminal is expected to sustain from 30 to 40 permanent jobs in Plaquemines Parish.
Phase 1, the wharves and docks, is projected to be completed in mid-2022. All required permits are in place, and site preparation including site clearing, open channel drainage, construction access roadways, geotechnical investigations and pile load tests, and environmental studies is completed. Phase 2, the land-side section, is in the development phase.
