Innovative Solutions for Bitumen, Crude and Fuel Logistics
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QGMI, a global leader in infrastructure development, has been engaged in a large-scale road construction project in Angola, paving nearly 100 kilometres of roadway. This ambitious government-backed project requires the efficient transportation and storage of bitumen over long distances. To meet this need, QGMI worked with TEC Container Solutions, Peacock Container and Hoyer to mobilise 88 TEC ADR/RID Bitutainers™. These specialised containers have enabled QGMI to streamline the logistics of moving bitumen from Germany to Angola, helping to keep the project on schedule and within budget.
Transporting large volumes of hot bitumen from Europe to Angola posed several logistical challenges for QGMI. The bitumen needed to travel from refineries in Germany to Angola, followed by an additional 500km journey from Luanda to the work site. Traditional bitumen transport methods required the product to cool before shipping, resulting in delays and increased costs. Moreover, smaller capacity ISO tanks were less efficient, raising the cost per tonne for logistics. QGMI needed a reliable solution that could handle large quantities of hot bitumen without unnecessary cooling delays, ensuring smooth delivery and consistent supply to the project site.
Jon Whittall, Managing Director of TEC Container Solutions, commented on the partnership:
“I met representatives of QGMI at a global industry event where I was a speaker on the topic of new innovations in bitumen logistics. I discussed how Bitutainers can allow for a more flexible, reliable, and efficient bitumen logistic operation than many other options. This struck a chord and we discussed their requirements in depth. This was followed by a meeting at a chosen refinery where we delved into the technical operation and how logistics could be best managed. As this was a temporary requirement for a three-year project, we introduced QGMI to Peacock, who are experts in tank container leasing, and with Hoyer being contracted to take care of the logistics, all parties collaborated on producing the best technical, logistical, and commercial arrangement for QGMI’s operation.”
TEC Container Solutions provided QGMI with 88 ADR/RID Bitutainers™, fully certified to ADR and RID standards, allowing for the safe and efficient transport of hot bitumen by road and rail without the need to cool the product first. These units offer a higher carrying capacity than standard ISO tanks, significantly reducing transport costs per ton. The double-walled insulation ensures optimal heat retention, and their robust, framed design with corner twist locks provides stability and safety during transit, even in challenging conditions.
The integration of ADR/RID Bitutainers™ into QGMI’s logistics chain allowed for greater flexibility in both storage and transport operations. These containers are used for transporting hot bitumen directly from the refinery without cooling times, significantly simplifying and speeding up the logistics process. Without the ADR/RID Bitutainer™, truck waiting costs, refinery storage costs, and space restrictions would have greatly slowed down the logistic operation and driven costs up.
On-site, space is allocated for containers that are swapped in and out of a ‘heating station.’ Empty containers are sent straight back to the port to be refilled, ensuring a consistent bitumen supply and maintaining the necessary buffer stock to support continuous asphalt production. This streamlined approach has kept bitumen logistics smooth and reliable throughout the project.
By integrating TEC’s ADR/RID Bitutainers™ into their logistics chain, QGMI was able to address key challenges and improve overall efficiency:
The ability to transport hot bitumen directly from the refinery without cooling times made logistics simpler and faster, ensuring timely deliveries to the job site. The elimination of truck waiting costs, refinery storage costs, and space restrictions helped avoid delays and kept operational costs under control.
The increased capacity of the ADR/RID Bitutainers™ lowered the cost per ton for transporting bitumen, providing significant savings over the project’s duration.
The containers proved to be exceptionally reliable, as demonstrated when a truck overturned during transit—despite the accident, the container remained intact, and not a single drop of bitumen leaked. This robust performance underlines the durability and safety of TEC’s solution.
“The ADR/RID BitutainerTM logistics have been very smooth, both in terms of transport and heating operations. We had an incident where on truck overturned onto its side, but there was no damage caused to the BitutainerTM and not a drop of bitumen was spilt.” – Representative from QGMI
The collaboration between QGMI, TEC Container Solutions, Peacock and Hoyer showcases how innovative logistics solutions can address complex challenges in large-scale infrastructure projects. The use of ADR/RID Bitutainers™ has proven to be a valuable asset in ensuring the efficient and safe delivery of bitumen to support Angola’s growing infrastructure needs. This project reflects TEC’s commitment to providing practical, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for its clients worldwide.
Are you interested in seeing similar results to what QGMI experienced? Don’t hesitate to contact us at TEC Container Solutions. Our team of experts can work with you to provide the right solution for your needs. Get in touch with us today to learn more about the market leading BitutainerTM Range.
Innovative Solutions for Bitumen, Crude and Fuel Logistics
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TEC’s design and mechanical engineering team are dedicated to the design of specialised tank containers. This team has designed amongst others, the Bitutainer™ range of containers – which has essentially transformed the transportation of bitumen worldwide since the 1990s.
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