According to Vopak E.O.S. the government of Estonia plans to build a prison in the vicinity of its oil terminal and pipeline. The decision may jeopardize the company’s investments in the Baltic country, the Vopak statement said.
The venture between the world’s largest chemical-storage company and Russian tank-terminal operator N-Trans would need “significant” additional security investment, Vopak E.O.S. said in an e-mailed statement today. The company, which has filed an appeal against the construction with an Estonian court, said that if the facility near the capital Tallinn is built it will raise “very serious issues for Royal Vopak.”
“Billions of krooni in investments that Vopak E.O.S. made in Estonia over the last ten years are being questioned,” Chief Executive Officer Arnout Lugtmeijer said. “This prison would cost us dearly and it threatens our future here.”
Justice Minister Rein Lang said yesterday in parliament that Vopak E.O.S. is concerned the construction won’t allow it to expand operations in the area, rather than about security, according to the speech published on the ministry’s Web site.
“I have to say that the mode of operation of the persons representing a Netherlands-registered company in Estonia at times reminds of the attitudes of nineteenth century-colonists towards the natives,” Lang said in the speech.
Vopak E.O.S., an Estonian joint venture of Royal Vopak NV operates three oil terminals with a storage capacity of about 951.000 cubic meters in the Port of Muuga near Tallinn.