The ports of Duisburg and Rotterdam have strengthened their collaborative efforts towards sustainable transport and energy transition with the signing of a new letter of intent (LoI).
This agreement, endorsed in the presence of Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, aims to bolster the development of efficient waterway transport corridors, significantly benefiting the supply chain and industry between these crucial logistics hubs.
European logistics giants
Hendrik Wüst remarked on the significance of the partnership, noting that "the port of Rotterdam – as Europe’s largest seaport – and Duisburg’s port – the world’s largest inland port – together make a decisive contribution to the industrial future of North Rhine-Westphalia."
He highlighted the ports' potential as central hubs for hydrogen and CO₂, integral to the path toward a climate-neutral industry. Wüst emphasised the enhancement this cooperation brings to North Rhine-Westphalia's position as a logistics hub for Europe.
Infrastructure and security policy
The ports aim to facilitate cross-border carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCU/CCS) activities
Amidst global changes, the collaboration signals a commitment to modernising infrastructure and deepening cross-border partnerships.
"By modernising infrastructure and deepening partnerships, we secure the future viability of our continent – in terms of economy, ecology as well as security policy," Wüst stated.
A pivotal aspect of this partnership is the export of CO₂, crucial for sectors that are challenging to decarbonise without robust ports and transport chains. The ports aim to facilitate cross-border carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCU/CCS) activities.
Strengthening the Rhine corridor
An essential component of this agreement is the enhancement of the Rhine corridor as a sustainable logistics hub. This corridor is vital for European energy supply, providing efficient access for production sites to global markets.
"We face great challenges which we can overcome much more quickly, efficiently and intelligently together," remarked duisport CEO Markus Bangen. He stressed the importance of collaboration in developing sustainable logistics and energy transition solutions and praised Rotterdam as an ideal partner.
Europe's energy needs
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, noted that "13 percent of Europe’s energy demand is imported by way of Rotterdam."
While fossil fuels currently dominate, there is a long-term goal to shift towards renewable energies. The significant role of inland shipping in the transportation of energy sources underscores the importance of the cooperation with Duisburg, with Minister President Wüst's visit to Rotterdam seen as a clear signal of support.
Historic collaboration
The ports' collaboration dates back to a letter of intent signed in 2022, focusing on rail, land development, digitalisation, and the energy transition.
Previous successes include partnerships with the Brazilian port in Pecém for green energy transport to Europe and advancements in digital port systems through RheinPorts and Portbase, alongside the introduction of low carbon ammonia transport.
The ports of Duisburg and Rotterdam are pressing ahead in their close cooperation: A new letter of intent (LoI) between the ports was signed in the presence of Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
With this, the two major European logistics hubs reinforce their goal of jointly developing sustainable transport corridors via waterways as well as future-oriented initiatives for the energy transition – for the benefit of industry and the supply chain between and within Rotterdam and Duisburg.
Europe’s largest seaport
NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst: “The port of Rotterdam – as Europe’s largest seaport – and Duisburg’s port – the world’s largest inland port – together make a decisive contribution to the industrial future of North Rhine-Westphalia.”
“Both ports will become central hubs for hydrogen and CO₂ in the future, making them important partners on our path to climate-neutral industry. It is good news for North Rhine-Westphalia that both ports are taking their cooperation another step further.”
“The close cooperation between Rotterdam and Duisburg strengthens the competitiveness of our economy – and especially the resilience of our supply chains. North Rhine-Westphalia remains a logistics hub for Europe, for energy supply, as well as for military mobility in mutual defence.”
Modernising infrastructure
As such, Rotterdam and Duisburg stand for a strong, networked Europe – especially now in this time of global upheaval. “Their cooperation signals confidence: by modernising infrastructure and deepening partnerships, we secure the future viability of our continent – in terms of economy, ecology as well as security policy,” Wüst says.
A central new element of the cooperation is the export of CO2. This is crucial for ‘hard to abate’ industry, since decarbonising these sectors via CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) is not possible without strong ports and high-performance transport chains.
The ports of Duisburg and Rotterdam thus create the conditions for cross-border CCU/CCS activities, that is, the targeted capture, storage and utilization of carbon dioxide. Another big focus in the agreement between the two ports lies in strengthening the Rhine corridor as a sustainable cross-border logistics hub.
Rhine corridor
The Rhine corridor forms the backbone of European energy supply and enables efficient, sustainable access for the production sites to international markets. As the most important waterway in Europe, it secures the security of supply and the competitiveness of a vast array of companies along the entire value chain.
“We face great challenges which we can overcome much more quickly, efficiently and intelligently together,” emphasises duisport CEO Markus Bangen. “It is crucial for us to bundle our expertise and develop collective cross-border solutions, especially in sustainable logistics and the sectors surrounding the energy transition. Logistics is a team sport – and the port of Rotterdam is our ideal partner.”
Europe’s energy demand
“13 percent of Europe’s energy demand is imported by way of Rotterdam,” says Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
“This is still primarily made up of fossil fuels, but our long-term aim is to become Europe’s port for importing renewable energies.”
“Inland shipping – and thus our cooperation with duisport – is especially important in the onward transport of these energy sources. As such, the waterway needs a strong lobby, and we are delighted that Minister President Wüst is setting a clear signal here with his visit to Rotterdam.”
Letter of intent
The two ports already signed a letter of intent in 2022 on cooperation in the fields of rail and inland land development, digitalisation and the energy transition.
Examples of past successes include the partnership with the Brazilian port in Pecém for transporting green energy to Europe, the advancements made in the cooperation of digital port community systems RheinPorts and Portbase and the pilot of the first low carbon ammonia transport when the Dutch king visited in November 2023.
