The United States Department of Energy has awarded a $1.4bn contract to Strategic Storage Partners, LLC, a joint venture led by APTIM in collaboration with BWX Technologies, Inc., to manage and maintain the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and its related infrastructure located in Louisiana and Texas. The contract is set to begin on 15 June and will cover an initial period of five years, with an option for the Department to extend it for an additional five years.
Established to address emergency petroleum supply disruptions, the SPR is the world’s largest emergency crude oil stockpile, with a capacity of 714mn barrels. The storage facilities, located at four sites along the Gulf Coast, utilise underground salt caverns to contain the volumes. The reserve’s role is to mitigate potential disruptions to US oil supply and uphold commitments under the International Energy Program.
An operational mandate of high responsibility
The assignment entrusted to Strategic Storage Partners includes oversight of distribution systems, industrial safety management, and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. APTIM, a company specialising in technical and environmental services, will lead the operational direction, while BWX Technologies, a supplier of nuclear components and technical services to the US government, will contribute its complex engineering expertise.
Mark Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of APTIM and Chairman of the Board of Strategic Storage Partners, stated that the company was ready to mobilise its resources to ensure service continuity. “APTIM is honoured to serve the Department of Energy, the SPR teams and the nation in its mission to protect energy and economic security,” he said.
Extended contract at the core of energy security
Managing the SPR carries strategic importance for the United States, especially in a period of high volatility in oil markets. The contract terms include a performance clause allowing continuous evaluation to determine whether an extension is warranted after the initial term.
The last tender of this scale for the SPR dates back several years, underlining the relative operational stability of the reserve. This renewal of partnership signals a renewed focus on securing the logistical infrastructure of US energy assets, as national storage capacity continues to play a central role in federal crisis response planning.
