Port Authority believes that Rli draws the wrong conclusion

Source: transport-online.nl

ROTTERDAM – The Rotterdam Port Authority largely endorses rightly notes that to maintain the analysis, but not the Rli the conclusion that the Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (Rli) draws in its opinion “Mainports beyond” 1 July 2016 “and enhance the added value of the Rotterdam port and industrial complex not only need to look at growth of volumes and infrastructure. Unfortunately, as the advisory body connects to the wrong conclusion, namely that there is no specific main port policy is needed. Developments such as climate change, energy and digitalization make according to the Port Authority a main port policy 2.0 right now necessary, “said a spokesman for the Port Authority.

“The port of Rotterdam is of great importance to the Dutch economy: it offers to 180,000 people work and provides 21 billion value added The Port Authority agrees in principle with the analysis of Rli, such as the observation that the main port policy not merely grafted. should be based on volumes and infrastructure. ”

But the Port Authority finds that the large volumes and the scale of the complex does provide opportunities for efficiency, innovation, cluster strengthening and sustainability. “The port of Rotterdam is facing major challenges. In particular, climate change, energy and digitization have a major impact on the Rotterdam port and industrial complex. The Port Authority takes very reason that there must be a policy to successfully implement the necessary transition and so to preserve the economic value of the main port. such forward-looking main port policy is focused on the use of data and ICT to optimize logistics and more sustainable, on bio-based fuels and chemicals, circular economy, renewable energy, utilization of port heat, etc. . ”

“An energy does not come naturally. That demands such as policy and investment for a heat network, capture and storage of CO₂, bio-based refining, wind energy storage (for example, by converting it into hydrogen), application of relatively clean LNG as transport fuel , etc. ”

“The same goes for the efficient organization of the logistics through digitization which can be used include the current capacity of the Dutch infrastructure better. In almost all these areas work industry, government, research institutions and the Port Authority together with plans, but stay out of investments because clear and long-term policy frameworks of the government are missing. in addition, both require digitization as energy investments that go beyond the port area and not only be borne by private parties, see for example the investment in heating networks. ”

The Port Authority agrees with the Council that the coupling of the port can be strengthened with the regional economy and the business climate in all facets should get his attention. But the Port Authority at the same time feels that the Council underestimated the importance of the international hub function of the port. Incidentally, the Port Authority notes that the Council on key components used by the wrong numbers, in particular the development of added value.

In short: “Contrary to what the Rli suggests is a main port policy 2.0 desperately needed, aimed at maintaining and further developing the economic value of the port complex.”

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