- Joined
- Jan 20, 2014
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- 395
- Reaction score
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- Location
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- Website
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American Petroleum Company (APC), a subsidiary of Standard Oil, was founded in 1891 to distribute Standard Oil products in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In 1892, 3,000 tankers (sailing ships) imported 500,000 (wooden) barrels from overseas.
In 1902 the first buildings were erected on the site called Petrol South.
A large fire destroyed several of the buildings in 1904.
In the following years the APC expanded and other companies from the oil industry also settled there.
Gasoline sales started in 1905.
In 1910 the refinery of the Compagnie Industrielle "Atlas" in Antwerp was taken over. At that time there were already 175 (smaller) warehouses, 600 carts and trucks, 1000 horses, 300 tank cars, 21 barges and 10 seagoing vessels in Belgium. APC had 1,500 employees.
Diesel oil was first brought onto the market in 1911.
In 1912 the transport with wooden barrels was stopped.
The first fixed gas pump was installed in 1922. This happened in Belgium. The gasoline was sold under the brand name Motocarline. The gasoline was sold in 10 liter canisters prior to the arrival of the pumps, which were distributed through a network of storage locations.
In 1927 the sale of lubricating oil was started and in 1928 the sale of kerosene.
In 1938 the Belgian APC became the Standard American Petroleum Company (SAPC) and the Esso brand was introduced in Belgium.
After World War II it started again as SAPC, but in 1948 the name SAPC was permanently replaced by Esso (Esso Belgium).
One of the buildings from 1904, above-ground pipelines that were created in 1946, are now listed buildings.
A large tank farm is also still there.
In 1953 Esso built a new refinery in Antwerp.
It was the most modern refinery in the world.
In 1999, Esso (Standard Oil from New Jersey) merged with Mobil Oil (Standard Oil from New York) to ExxonMobil.
In 2011 the entire site was renamed from Petrol South to Blue Gate Antwerp.
The first in a closed cycle, ecologically effective, water-bound commercial area of Antwerp is currently being built here.
What used to be the heart of the Antwerp oil industry is now becoming an important breeding ground for innovations.
In 1892, 3,000 tankers (sailing ships) imported 500,000 (wooden) barrels from overseas.
In 1902 the first buildings were erected on the site called Petrol South.
A large fire destroyed several of the buildings in 1904.
In the following years the APC expanded and other companies from the oil industry also settled there.
Gasoline sales started in 1905.
In 1910 the refinery of the Compagnie Industrielle "Atlas" in Antwerp was taken over. At that time there were already 175 (smaller) warehouses, 600 carts and trucks, 1000 horses, 300 tank cars, 21 barges and 10 seagoing vessels in Belgium. APC had 1,500 employees.
Diesel oil was first brought onto the market in 1911.
In 1912 the transport with wooden barrels was stopped.
The first fixed gas pump was installed in 1922. This happened in Belgium. The gasoline was sold under the brand name Motocarline. The gasoline was sold in 10 liter canisters prior to the arrival of the pumps, which were distributed through a network of storage locations.
In 1927 the sale of lubricating oil was started and in 1928 the sale of kerosene.
In 1938 the Belgian APC became the Standard American Petroleum Company (SAPC) and the Esso brand was introduced in Belgium.
After World War II it started again as SAPC, but in 1948 the name SAPC was permanently replaced by Esso (Esso Belgium).
One of the buildings from 1904, above-ground pipelines that were created in 1946, are now listed buildings.
A large tank farm is also still there.
In 1953 Esso built a new refinery in Antwerp.
It was the most modern refinery in the world.
In 1999, Esso (Standard Oil from New Jersey) merged with Mobil Oil (Standard Oil from New York) to ExxonMobil.
In 2011 the entire site was renamed from Petrol South to Blue Gate Antwerp.
The first in a closed cycle, ecologically effective, water-bound commercial area of Antwerp is currently being built here.
What used to be the heart of the Antwerp oil industry is now becoming an important breeding ground for innovations.
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