Below is a machine translation of the formal reaction of the Port of Rotterdam Authority:

Various media reported on Monday 16 December about a study by CE Delft into the direct and indirect emissions of the Rotterdam port area commissioned by Advocates for the Future. The Port of Rotterdam Authority is the manager, operator and developer of the port area in which 3,000 companies are located. In this article, the Port of Rotterdam Authority provides an explanation of the reporting.

Summary

Thirteen percent of all energy consumed in Europe passes through the Rotterdam port area. The production of this energy by companies in Rotterdam and the use of this energy by consumers and companies outside Rotterdam releases a lot of CO2; the calculation made for this by CE Delft is largely recognisable to the Port Authority and is not new.

Controlling the effects of climate change requires a completely new, global system for energy and raw materials. Companies worldwide, including those in the port, must make major investments in converting factories and in new production facilities. This is already happening, including for the production of new, low-carbon fuels. This will reduce CO2 emissions in the port and among users worldwide in the long term and will reduce dependence on fossil energy and fossil raw materials. This is important given the current speed of climate change.

As manager, operator and developer of the Rotterdam port and industrial area, the Port of Rotterdam Authority wants to stimulate and enable these investments by companies, while maintaining an attractive investment climate in Rotterdam. In its role, the Port Authority is constantly looking at how it can accelerate the transition by companies, including by jointly investing in the construction of the necessary infrastructure. The Port Authority also uses seaport dues and lease contracts to add financial incentives and make reduction agreements with our customers.

Rotterdam is an energy port

Thirteen percent of all energy consumed in Europe passes through the Rotterdam port area. Since the 1950s, refineries have been located here that produce fuels for aircraft, cars and ships, as well as basic products for the production of plastics. When using these, now still mostly fossil raw materials and fuels, a lot of CO2 is released. When using the fossil raw materials and fuels that are imported and transported, CO2 is also released. Commissioned by the Port Authority, the German Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy calculated in 2016 that the indirect emissions of the port are approximately 580 Mton. In that sense, we recognize the figures of 604 Mton CO2 equivalent from CE Delft. That conclusion is therefore not new.

The challenge is the transition to CO2 neutrality in 2050

Controlling the effects of climate change requires a completely new, global system for energy and raw materials that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During this transition, fossil energy is still needed to keep society from coming to a standstill. By importing, producing and transporting hydrogen produced with energy from the sun and wind via the port of Rotterdam, industrial clusters in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium can significantly reduce their CO2 emissions in the long term. If fossil fuels are replaced by biofuels and synthetic fuels, the dependency on fossil energy and fossil raw materials decreases - and therefore the emissions outside the port.

The Port Authority stimulates the transition in its role as manager, operator and developer

It is the companies in the port that can make the necessary investments in converting factories and in new production facilities, aimed at CO2 reduction, to reduce their direct and indirect emissions. Regulations are important: for example, the demand for alternative fuels and raw materials is currently still low because their use is not yet mandatory and the price is considerably higher than regular fuels. A blending obligation of two percent applies to aviation fuel from 2025. We see that investments in sustainable aviation fuel in the port area have increased. Rotterdam is now the largest biofuel cluster in Europe. Obligations for more sectors will increase the demand and therefore the investments of companies.

Infrastructure takes precedence over investments in the transition

The Port Authority, in its role, is constantly looking at how it can accelerate the transition by companies, including by jointly investing in the construction of the necessary infrastructure. Together with others, we have invested significantly in infrastructure in the port area. Infrastructure for CO2 and hydrogen is now being constructed and, once put into use by companies, will lead to CO2 reduction in their processes and products. In our commercial policy, we encourage companies to take steps faster, through financial incentives and agreements in land lease contracts. This aims to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, without compromising security of supply and strategic autonomy of Europe.

Read the Dutch version of the Port of Rotterdam Authority's reaction →