Exolum has secured a contract for the construction, operation, connection, and maintenance of a new fuel storage and distribution terminal at Düsseldorf Airport in Germany. The company plans to invest nearly €70 million in this project, with construction expected to commence in the third quarter of 2026. The contract was formalised at the offices of Flughafen Düsseldorf GmbH (FDG), the airport’s public operator.
This new facility will replace the existing two storage plants and increase capacity to 9,000 m³, representing a 41 percent increase over current levels. This expansion aims to enhance the security of supply and promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and sulphur-free kerosene. Exolum will manage the terminal for a period of 20 years, with the option to extend to 25 years, after which ownership of the infrastructure will transfer to FDG.
Operations at the plant are set to begin in the second quarter of 2028. Upon completion, it will be connected to the railway network, allowing for the majority of fuel to be transported by train rather than road from late 2029. This shift aims to minimise environmental impact and enable sourcing from more distant refineries, including SAF production facilities in Rotterdam. Such changes are projected to reduce CO₂ emissions, alleviate pressure on road networks, and increase efficiency in supply, loading, and unloading operations.
Javier Goñi, CEO of Exolum, expressed the company’s commitment to fostering growth in Germany by ensuring a reliable and efficient fuel supply for Düsseldorf Airport. He highlighted Exolum’s extensive experience in managing terminals at numerous airports across Europe and the Americas, which will benefit Düsseldorf and its users. The new terminal is expected to facilitate compliance with the European ReFuelEU directive, which mandates that SAF must account for 6 percent of total fuel usage by 2030.
Lars Redeligx, CEO of Düsseldorf Airport, emphasised the airport’s ambition to rank among the top airports in Europe regarding quality, efficiency, and sustainability. He noted the importance of partnering with innovative companies like Exolum to achieve these goals. The new facility will provide access to sustainable fuels from novel sources and significantly reduce the number of tanker trucks currently delivering fuel by road, shifting that transport to rail.
Düsseldorf Airport, serving over 20 million passengers annually, is the primary airport in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which encompasses cities such as Cologne, Bonn, and Dortmund. This area is the most populous in Germany, with approximately 10 million residents, and is a major economic and financial hub in Central Europe.
Exolum is recognised as the world’s leading independent aviation logistics company and Europe’s foremost provider of storage and distribution infrastructure management for bulk liquids and gases. The company operates in 49 airports across Europe and Latin America, including major hubs like Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Madrid-Barajas. In the UK, Exolum provides logistics services to key airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick.
The company’s comprehensive solutions encompass hydrant networks, aircraft into-plane services, and specialised operations, ensuring efficiency, safety, and sustainability throughout the aviation supply chain. Exolum is also a strategic partner of IATA, a member of the Joint Inspection Group (JIG), chairs the Energy Institute’s aviation committee, and is affiliated with ACI and ALTA, underscoring its commitment to high-quality standards and the transition to sustainable aviation fuels.
Düsseldorf Airport, North Rhine-Westphalia’s largest airport, plays a crucial role in fulfilling the mobility needs of citizens and businesses in the region as well as parts of the Netherlands and Belgium. By 2024, it is anticipated to handle 20 million passengers.
In the summer, over 60 airlines operate flights from the airport to more than 165 destinations worldwide, providing direct connections to nearly all European cities and offering a diverse range of routes through major international hubs. The airport’s vision, termed ‘Destination of Excellence,’ includes planned investments of one billion euros over the next 20 years to promote the sustainable transformation of air transport and enhance the region’s livability and economic vitality. As the largest employer in Düsseldorf, with around 20,000 jobs, the airport significantly contributes to local employment and is committed to achieving CO2 neutrality by 2035.
For more information visit www.exolum.com/en/
