Tue 21 Dec 2010, 10:41 GMT

Buckeye to acquire 80% stake in BORCO


US firm in agreement to gain a majority interest in Bahamas oil storage terminal.



First Reserve Corporation has announced that it has sold its 80 percent equity interest in the Bahamas Oil Refining Company oil storage terminal to Buckeye Partners, L.P. (Buckeye) for $1.36 billion.

First Reserve and Vopak, the world's largest tank terminal operator, acquired the BORCO oil storage terminal in Freeport, Bahamas, in April 2008 as a strategic joint venture. The equity of the company was split 80%/20% between affiliates of First Reserve Fund XI, L.P. and Royal Vopak, respectively.

"Our investment in BORCO has provided significant value for our strategic partners and investors. During our three-year investment period, we have worked with Vopak to make significant upgrades to the facility's infrastructure, diversified Borco's product offerings, and have worked with the management team to create an operating center of excellence," said Tim Day, Managing Director at First Reserve.

"The terminal is now a strategic hub for some of the world's major oil companies and provides them with superior facilities for storage and distribution services. Vopak has been a great partner and with Buckeye's acquisition of our 80% interest, BORCO is well positioned for future growth and continued success."

Raymond Jones, Managing Director of BORCO, said, "Buckeye is a welcomed investor that will provide long-term support for the tremendous infrastructure improvements and expansion achieved to date. The infusion of capital, along with Vopak's continued interest, will enable BORCO to progress through its next phase of growth and which will provide additional economic benefits to the Bahamas and the region."

BORCO is a 21.6 million barrel storage terminal for crude oil, fuel oil and multiple petroleum products in Freeport, Bahamas, located just 80 miles east of the coast of Florida. In addition to storage, BORCO offers blending, trans-shipment and bunkering services. BORCO is the largest storage terminal in the Caribbean, and its deepwater jetty facilities can berth the largest-sized vessels.

The transaction is expected to close in January of 2011 and is contingent upon the receipt of satisfactory regulatory approvals from the Government of the Bahamas.

About Buckeye Partners, L.P.

Buckeye is a publicly traded partnership that owns and operates one of the largest independent refined petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, with approximately 5,400 miles of pipeline. Buckeye also owns 69 refined petroleum products terminals, operates and maintains approximately 2,400 miles of pipeline under agreements with major oil and chemical companies, owns a major natural gas storage facility in northern California, and markets refined petroleum products in certain of the geographic areas served by its pipeline and terminal operations


TMS Tankers logo. Lloyd’s Register delivers fleet-wide energy transition roadmap for TMS Tankers  

LR Advisory maps vessel-level compliance risk and decarbonisation pathways across the Greek owner’s tanker fleet.

Dr Prapisala Thepsithar, GCMD. GCMD shares biofuel assurance and green finance insights at Hong Kong shipping decarbonisation forum  

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation presented pilot findings on biofuels and energy efficiency financing.

Laura Maersk ethanol bunkering graphic. Maersk conducts large-scale ethanol bunkering trial on Laura Maersk in Rotterdam  

A.P. Moller – Maersk has conducted a barge-delivered ethanol bunkering operation as part of ongoing fuel trials.

Luminara vessel truck-to-ship bunkering. MOL Techno-Trade completes first LNG bunkering for international cruise ship in Hokkaido  

Truck-to-ship LNG operation at Hakodate marks first such supply to an international cruise vessel in Hokkaido.

Acta Gemini vessel. Acta Marine takes delivery of methanol dual-fuel CSOV Acta Gemini for RWE wind farm charter  

The vessel will support operations at the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm at Dogger Bank.

Yeva Wood and Kirsten Møller Jørgensen. Malik Supply expands Danish team with bunker trader and finance hire  

Danish bunker supplier Malik Supply adds two new staff across its Fredericia and Aalborg offices.

AiP award ceremony for a 10,000-teu biofuel-powered container ship. HJSC wins AiP for 10,000-teu biofuel-powered container ship design  

South Korean shipbuilder HJ Shipbuilding & Construction receives classification society approval for its biofuel vessel design at Posidonia.

Active vessel. Capital Clean Energy Carriers takes delivery of LNG carrier and dual-fuel gas carrier, secures five new charters  

Athens-based CCEC expands its fleet and pushes contracted revenue backlog to $3.1bn.

VPS logo. Fuel quality management for vessels in extended idle: Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and adjacent anchorages | Rahul Choudhuri, VPS  

Managing fuel quality deterioration following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Person signing a document. Agastya Green Fuels signs 250,000 t/yr e-methanol offtake deal with Sri Lanka’s SAR Group  

Indian producer and Sri Lankan maritime firm agree long-term green methanol supply partnership.