SUPPORTING NATION’S FUEL ECONOMY:
PENTARCH’S EDEN DIESEL STORAGE PLAN

TRADE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGION’S TIMBER PROCESSING AND OPTIMISATION

RESEARCH and development group Pentarch Logistics together with its partner South East Fibre Exports (SEFE)\, is investigating the viability of constructing a new diesel storage facility at the Eden wood and export facility in southern NSW.

The SEFE-owned industrial site is about 25 km south of the Eden township at the southern end of Twofold Bay, and houses timber processing and wood-chipping operations, timber storage yards and has its own wharf and ship-loading infrastructure.

A potential strategic diesel storage site at Eden will support the federal government’s long-term goal of increased domestic fuel stocks aimed at limiting the impact of fuel supply disruptions.

Pentarch Logistics CEO Paul Heubner said the proposed site was strategically positioned in a non-metropolitan location on the east coast about half way between Sydney and Melbourne and could serve as a distribution point for fuel to areas such as Canberra, the Riverina, Snowy Mountains, the NSW south coast and eastern Victoria.

“We believe the Eden site represents a unique and compelling location for a viable greenfield operation which best meets national fuel security requirements,” Mr Heubner said.

The Eden facility has a fuel depot which distributes over 4 million litres of diesel a year to Pentarch Logistics and its associated contractors. An opportunity to increase fuel storage and distribution capacity will provide further employment and trade opportunities in the area, and complement other activities being undertaken at the Eden site including the timber processing and optimisation hub.

The proposed strategic diesel storage facility will be designed to be able to provide fuel to vessels calling into the Port of Eden, therefore positioning the port for future growth.

Paul Heubner said the establishment of a new fuel reserve in combination with the planned investments at the Eden site would produce important employment and economic benefits to the region and would provide much-needed fuel supply reliability.

Pentarch Logistics will enter into preliminary discussions on the project with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment shortly.