Increased coal volumes at Port of Gdańsk

Due to the war in Ukraine, the Port of Gdańsk and other ports in Poland have taken responsibility for receiving energyproducing raw materials, such as coal or liquid fuels. Since the start of restrictions related to imports from Russia, Poland has had to acquire resources from other destinations.

Coal imported by sea from Colombia, the USA, Australia, South Africa and Indonesia has filled the gap created after the decision to ban the import of this raw material from Russia. Coal from Colombia reaches the port the fastest as it only takes three weeks, and it is also preferred by the users as it is very similar to the Russian coal imported for use in households in recent years. Over the entire year, the port has had to handle as many as 477 ships bearing coal.

The port in Gdańsk is able to handle large volumes of coal and crude oil, with the port operators being ready for the increased volumes of cargo. The handling capacities of the port are 88mt (million tonnes) per year, and it closed 2022 at a record-high of 68mt, with the volume of the coal handled being 13.2mt, including about 12.5mt imported.

So far, the largest volume of coal being handled in the port in Gdańsk occurred in October, at 1.9mt. From the ship to the yard, the port handles approximately 400,000 tonnes per week on average.

The port is able to achieve a capacity of approximately 20mt of coal per year. This is possible thanks to the investments in the stacking yards and handling equipment.

The port has seen an increase in this group at the Port of Gdańsk, both in the deepwater Outer Port and in the Inner Port. The increase in the volume of coal handled in the inner port is mainly due to Port Gdański Eksploatacja. It is the second largest operator, after Port Północny, in the Port of Gdańsk that handles coal. The company conducts its handling activities using the following five quays: Dworzec Drzewny, Rudowe, Szczecińskie, Węglowe and Wiślane.

In February of last year, the first of three Liebherr LHM–550 harbour cranes began operating within the Dworzec Drzewny Quay. Another LHM–550 crane was purchased in August. Investments in handling equipment considerably increase the company’s handling capacity.

AUMUND Brazil: the first Samson® Material Feeders for biomass in South America

The two Samson® Material Feeders ordered from AUMUND Ltda in São Paulo, Brazil, by first-time customer ComBio Energia S.A., are also the first machines of their kind to be operated for biomass handling in energy generation in South America.

ComBio develops projects using biomass for generation of steam and cogeneration of electrical energy for customers from various industries.

The two Samson® Material Feeders are destined for a customer in the food sector with whom ComBio has an agreement for energy generation at its new plant in the state of São Paulo. The Feeders will be operating 24 hours a day with a capacity of 510m3/h for handling various biomass materials. Due to its versatility, high transport capacity, low energy consumption and design robustness, the Samson® Material Feeder reduces the risk of biomass clogging during material intake and transport. Supply is planned for April and commissioning is due to take place in the second half of this year.

A Samson® Material Feeder unloading onto a linear-positioned ongoing conveyor (example photo AUMUND).

About The Aumund Group

The AUMUND Group is active worldwide. The conveying and storage specialists has special expertise at its disposal when dealing with bulk materials. With their high degree of individuality, both its technically sophisticated as well as innovative products have contributed to the AUMUND Group today being a market leader in many areas of conveying and storage technology. The manufacturing companies AUMUND Fördertechnik GmbH (Rheinberg, Germany), SCHADE Lagertechnik GmbH (Gelsenkirchen, Germany), SAMSON Materials Handling Ltd (Ely, Great Britain), TILEMANN GmbH Chains & Components (Essen, Germany) as well as AUMUND Group Field Service GmbH and AUMUND Logistic GmbH (Rheinberg, Germany) are consolidated under the umbrella of the AUMUND Group. The global conveying and storage technology business is spearheaded through a total of 20 locations in Asia, Europe, North and South America and a total of five warehouses in Germany, USA, Brazil, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.